Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
BAYLOR
vs.
NEW MEXICO STATE
MARCH 26
6:30 P.M.
BAYLOR
vs.
TEXAS
MARCH 27
6:30 P.M.
GETTERMAN STADIUM
WACO, TEXAS
RADIO: KRZI 1660/1580 AM (Texas game only)
Baylor concludes a four-game home stand with a pair of mid-week games. The Lady Bears host New Mexico State at 6:30 p.m. CST Tuesday and Texas at 6:30 p.m. CST Wednesday. Baylor (33-8, 4-1) is coming off a series split with Kansas, winning Sunday's game 1-0. NMSU (14-21) swept a doubleheader Sunday at home against New Mexico. Texas (29-9, 2-0) swept a weekend series at home against Missouri, winning the Sunday game 5-4. Wednesday's game will be aired live on KRZI 1660/1580 AM in the Waco area. John Morris will handle play-by-play duties with for Baylor head coach Paula Young providing color analysis.
HEAD COACH GLENN MOORE
Glenn Moore is in his second season as head coach at Baylor, coming to Waco after a stellar three-year tenure at Louisiana State. In his first season at Baylor, Moore led the Lady Bears to a 38-22 overall record and a sixth-place, 7-9 mark in the Big 12 Conference. Along the way, Baylor established school season records for wins, home runs (24), fielding percentage (.963), on base percentage (.329), shutouts (17) and saves (7). The Lady Bears also enjoyed a school-record 11-game winning streak in February. While at LSU, Moore amassed a 117-25 (.820) record in two-plus seasons as the head coach. In that time, he led the Tigers to consecutive Southeastern Conference titles and back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Regionals. He was named head coach at LSU just prior to the 1998 Regionals, giving him three NCAA postseason appearances as a head coach. The Tigers went 56-10 in 1999 en route to the SEC regular season title and the conference tournament championship. Last season, the Tigers finished 59-13, one game shy of the College World Series. LSU finished eighth nationally in team batting average (.310) and ninth in team ERA (1.11). Moore has a career record of 210-72 (.745), he posted a 22-17 mark in his first year as a collegiate head coach at William Carey in Mississippi.
MOORE CLAIMS CAREER WIN No. 200
Baylor head coach Glenn Moore claimed his 200th career victory as a collegiate head coach Feb. 24 when the Lady Bears defeated San Diego State 5-1. Moore, who is 210-72 (.745) in his career, holds a 188-55 record (.774) at the Division I level.
THE NEW MEXICO STATE SERIES
Baylor and New Mexico State meet for the seventh time Tuesday with the Aggies holding a 4-2 advantage in the all-time series. The series is tied 1-1 in games played in Waco, however, this is NMSU's first visit to Waco since 1984. Last season, Baylor posted a 23-9 victory over the Aggies at the Troy Cox Classic in Las Cruces, N.M. In that game, the Lady Bears established school records for runs.
MOORE vs. NEW MEXICO STATE
Baylor head coach Glenn Moore is 1-0 in his career against New Mexico State. Baylor's victory over the Aggies last season was the first time a Moore-coached team had played NMSU.
THE NEW MEXICO STATE AGGIES
New Mexico State (14-21) is in its third year under the direction of head coach Lea Ann Jarvis, a former all-America catcher at Louisiana Tech. Jarvis has a career record of 162-282 in eight seasons as a collegiate head coach, 66-99 while at NMSU.
NMSU Notes: The Aggies are 6-4 in their last 10 games, including a doubleheader sweep Sunday at home against New Mexico. NMSU defeated the Lobos 4-3 in the opener and won the second game 9-1 in five innings. ... Baylor and NMSU have played three similar opponents - Texas A&M, Texas Tech and Wisconsin. The Lady Bears are 3-1 against those teams, winning twice against Tech, once against A&M and losing to Wisconsin. The Aggies are 3-2 against those teams, going 2-1 against Tech, 1-0 against A&M and 0-1 against Wisconsin. ... NMSU is hitting just .241 as a team and no player is hitting above .300, however, the Aggies pack plenty of punch with 22 home runs as a team. ... Junior C/OF Christine Stephens leads the team with a .289 average to go along with three homers and 16 RBI. ... Freshman OF Kelly Rhyne leads the Aggies with five homers and 19 RBI. ... NMSU has a staff ERA of 3.57. ... Sophomore RHP Anita Knight (4-15) has seen the most action (137.2 IP) and has a 3.71 ERA. ... Sophomore RHP Ryon Adams is 9-4 with a 2.79 ERA in 85.1 innings of work.
LAST MEETING ... BAYLOR 23, NMSU 9 - FEBRUARY 2001
Baylor tied or broke nine team and individual records during a 23-9 rout of New Mexico State at the Troy Cox Classic. NMSU scored six runs in the first off Baylor starter Sarah Caudle, but Jill Smith relieved Caudle and pitched the final six and two-thirds innings. Smith allowed 10 hits but just three runs as she picked up her first collegiate victory. Every BU starter crossed the plate at least once as Baylor scored three runs in the first inning, three in the second, nine in the fourth, one in the sixth, and seven in the seventh en route to their 23-run total. That total broke the school record for runs in a game, beating the previous total of 21 set against Colorado State on Feb. 28, 1982. Ryan Stukel led the Baylor offensive attack, her four hits tied the school record and marked the third time she has reached that total this season. Stukel also drove in six runs, which broke the school record for RBI in a game. Naomi Fitzgerald also knocked out four hits while breaking the school record by scoring four runs in the game. Stukel and Koral King each had six at bats, a total which broke the previous school record of five.
THE TEXAS SERIES
Baylor and Texas meet for the ninth time Wednesday with the Longhorns holding a 7-1 advantage in the all-time series. UT won the first seven meetings in the series, which dates back to the 1998 season. Baylor snapped that losing streak in their last meeting, topping the Longhorns 2-0 last April in Waco. Texas is 3-1 all-time in Waco, 1-1 at Getterman Stadium.
MOORE vs. TEXAS
Baylor head coach Glenn Moore is 2-1 in his career against Texas. Along with a 1-1 record against the Longhorns while at Baylor, Moore posted a 1-0 mark against UT while at LSU.
THE TEXAS LONGHORNS
Texas (29-9, 2-0) is in its sixth year under the direction of head coach Connie Clark, who has been the UT head coach for the duration of the program's existence. Clark is 207-122-1 as a collegiate head coach, all coming at Texas.
UT Notes: The Longhorns were the top vote-getter among the "others receiving votes" in the latest USA Today/NFCA Top 25 (March 20). UT received 41 total votes, just two ahead of Baylor. ... The Longhorns are 20-3 since a Feb. 17 loss to Kentucky. ... UT has played seven extra-inning games this year, going 4-3 in such contests. ... The Longhorns are 5-7 this season against nationally ranked opponents with two wins against top-10 teams. ... Texas is hitting .294 as a team, led by freshman 3B Wynter Turner's .385 average. ... Turner also leads the team with three home runs. ... Senior OF Deeanna Williams has a team-high 24 RBI. ... Freshman LHP Cat Osterman anchors the UT pitching staff at 19-6 with a 1.16 ERA. She has tallied 296 strikeouts in 162.1 innings of work. ... Junior C Marlo Hanks prepped at Kingwood (Texas) High School along with Baylor freshman OF Lena Keine.
LAST MEETING ... BAYLOR 2, TEXAS 0 - APRIL 2001
Koral King's double propelled Baylor to a 2-0 victory over Texas, giving the Lady Bears their first-ever victory over the Longhorns. Through five innings, Baylor had tallied only two hits, but the Lady Bears erupted for three in the sixth inning. With two out, Ryan Stukel singled through the left side and Sarah Caudle followed with a single to center. King then came to the plate and hit the first pitch she saw to left-center for a double, knocking in both Stukel and Caudle. Joni Miller limited Texas to just four hits and struck out six batters, she held the Longhorns hitless for four and two-thirds innings. The victory was Miller's ninth shutout of the season, she has also combined on five more shutouts. Texas' Charla Moore also pitched a complete game and allowed five hits. She is now 12-11 on the year.
LAST TIME OUT ... BAYLOR 1, KANSAS 0
Kim Wilmoth scored the eventual game-winning run and made a game-saving, sixth-inning catch as Baylor defeated Kansas 1-0 Sunday at Getterman Stadium. Saturday, Kansas got a pair of unearned first-inning runs en route to a 2-1 victory over Baylor. This time, it was Baylor's turn to capitalize on an error. With two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the third, Kristen Lancaster bounced a ball to shortstop Sandy Smith that appeared to get the Jayhawks out of the jam. However, Smith bobbled the ball, and a hustling Lancaster beat out the throw at first. Wilmoth scored from third on the play. That was all the offense Cristin Vitek needed. The freshman southpaw tossed six and two-thirds innings, she allowed four hits with two walks and seven strikeouts. Joni Miller pitched to two batters in the sixth, getting one out and allowing one hit before Vitek re-entered the game. When Vitek came back into the game, she found runners at second and third and two out. Pinch hitter Courtney Wright looped a ball over Wilmoth's right shoulder at short. However, Wilmoth made a diving, juggling catch to end the inning, saving two runs. Wilmoth, Kelly Levesque, Sarah Caudle and Danelle Arnold each had hits for Baylor. The Lady Bears tallied a season-high five stolen bases on the day, including two by Wilmoth.
LADY BEARS NEARING SCHOOL RECORD FOR WINS
At 33-8, Baylor is just five wins shy of tying the school record for wins in a season, established last season and in 1997. Furthermore, the Lady Bears are off to the best 41-game start in the program's history. The 2002 squad has already amassed at least as many wins as 15 previous teams in the 20-year history of Baylor softball. The Lady Bears opened the season at 7-0, matching the 1997 team for the most consecutive victories to start a season in school history. Baylor also has enjoyed a 13-game winning streak this season, the longest in school history.
BAYLOR OFF TO BEST BIG 12 START EVER
With a 4-1 record in Big 12 play, Baylor is off to its best conference start in the league's six-year history. The Lady Bears matched the 1999 squad with a 3-0 start, but just like that team, this year's squad lost its fourth game. However, the 1999 Lady Bears dropped five straight after starting 3-0. Baylor is just three conference wins shy of the school record for Big 12 wins in a season, the Lady Bears were 7-11 in 2000 and 7-9 in 2001.
HOME, SWEET HOME
With a 1-0 victory Sunday against Kansas, Baylor is 18-1 at home this season. Last Saturday's 2-1 loss to Kansas snapped a school-record 24-game home winning streak that dated back to last season. In two seasons under head coach Glenn Moore, Baylor is 33-7 at Getterman Stadium. The Lady Bears are 47-20 in the stadium's four-year existence.
GETTERMAN ATTENDANCE CONTINUES TO GROW
Getterman Stadium saw a crowd of 651 fans March 12 when Baylor defeated then-No. 21 Texas A&M 4-0. That is the second-largest attendance in the stadium's history behind only the crowd of 780 that watched the Lady Bears defeat Oklahoma State 1-0 in 14 innings March 31, 2001. In fact, six of the 10 largest crowds in the stadium's four-year history have come this season, including the fourth-largest of 503 fans for last Saturday's game against Kansas. Since Getterman Stadium opened May 1, 1999, there have been 14 dates of 400 or more fans, Baylor is 18-3 on those dates, sweeping five doubleheaders, splitting two others and losing one single game.
BAYLOR RECEIVES VOTES IN NFCA TOP 25
For the fourth straight week, Baylor received votes in the latest USA Today/NFCA Coaches Top 25 (March 20), ranking second among teams also receiving votes in this week's poll. The Lady Bears gained 39 total points, two less than Texas and 11 less than No. 25 Wisconsin. Baylor spent seven weeks in the Top 25 last season, reaching as high as No. 19.
FIRST-INNING SUCCESS
Through 41 games, Baylor has scored 29 first-inning runs this season. The Lady Bears are 13-0 this season when scoring in the first inning.
WHO'S HOT ... WHO'S NOT
HOT: Freshman LHP Cristin Vitek is 13-2 with a 0.28 ERA in her last 22 appearances, including 12 starts. In that span, she has tallied 109 strikeouts in 100.1 innings of work with only 15 walks. Opponents are hitting .152 off Vitek in that span, during which she is allowing slightly more than one hit per two innings. ... Sophomore OF Kelly Levesque is hitting .464 (13-for-28) with six runs, seven walks and a .568 on base percentage over the last 10 games. ... Freshman SS Kim Wilmoth, who is hitting .253 on the season, is hitting .412 (7-for-17) over the last eight games with four runs scored and six stolen bases. Her average has risen 41 points during that time.
NOT: Baylor is hitting just .243 (61-for-251) with two home runs in its last 10 games. ... Six regular starters are hitting .250 or lower during that span. ... Junior 2B Stacey Hundley is hitting .120 (3-for-25) in her last nine games. ... Junior 1B Kourtny Westerfeld has two hits in her last 15 at bats (.133). ... Senior 3B Kristen Lancaster is hitting .192 (5-for-26) over the last 10 games.
MILLER CLAIMS CAREER SAVES RECORD
Junior RHP Joni Miller picked up her ninth career save Wednesday in the Lady Bears' second game at Texas Tech. With that save, her fourth of the 2002 season, Miller eclipsed Stacey Allison's school record for saves in a career.
BAYLOR PITCHING STAFF TOPS IN BIG 12
The three-arm pitching staff of junior RHP Joni Miller, sophomore RHP Katie Decker and freshman LHP Cristin Vitek is making a strong case for the best staff in the Big 12 Conference. According to the March 25 rankings, Baylor leads the conference with a 0.84 team ERA. Furthermore, the Lady Bears have yet to allow an earned run in five Big 12 games (35.0 innings) and only two runs, period. Through five Big 12 games, Baylor has tossed four shutouts, prior to this season, Baylor had never thrown more than two conference shutouts in the same year.
VITEK MAKING HER MARK ON BIG 12
According to the March 25 Big 12 statistical rankings, freshman LHP Cristin Vitek is ranked in the top 10 of 10 categories, including ERA (2nd, 0.58), wins (2nd, 15), innings pitched (2nd, 119.2), strikeouts (4th, 130), saves (t3rd, 3), games started (t7th, 15), shutouts (t9th, 3) and opponents' batting average (3rd, .149). She is also tied for the Big 12 lead in appearances (28). In conference action, Vitek is tied for first in ERA (0.00), first in wins (3), second in innings pitched (20.2), second in strikeouts (21), tied for second in appearances (4), tied for first in games started (3) and eighth in opponents' batting average (.224).
MILLER NOT TOO SHABBY EITHER
Not to be out-done, junior RHP Joni Miller is in the top 10 of nine categories, according to the March 25 Big 12 rankings. The Edmond, Okla., native is fifth in ERA (0.98), seventh in wins (11), eighth in innings pitched (100.2), eighth in strikeouts (84), third in appearances (25), tied for first in saves (4), tied for third in games started (17), tied for ninth in shutouts (3) and ninth in complete games (7). In conference action, Miller is tied for first in ERA (0.00), sixth in innings pitched (10.1), tied for ninth in strikeouts (8), first in appearances (5), tied for first in saves (2) and tied for third in games started (2).
LEVESQUE, CAUDLE PEPPER BIG 12 OFFENSIVE STATS
Sophomore OF Kelly Levesque appears in the top 10 of seven offensive categories, according to the March 25 Big 12 rankings. Along with leading the conference in steals (22), Levesque is 10th in batting average (.351), fifth in hits (40), seventh in runs (24), tied for fourth in stolen bases (16) and fourth in on base percentage (.468). Meanwhile, junior OF Sarah Caudle is ranked 11th in batting average (.345), sixth in hits (39), tied for second in triples (4) and seventh in RBI (22). ... Sophomore C Danelle Arnold is 19th in the conference with a .324 batting average. She is also leading the conference in Big 12 play with three doubles. ... Freshman SS Kim Wilmoth is tied with Levesque for fourth in steals (16), while junior 2B Stacey Hundley is 10th with 12 swipes.
VITEK'S SURGE GIVES BAYLOR A PAIR OF ACES
Freshman left-hander Cristin Vitek established herself as one of the nation's top freshman pitchers two weeks ago when she out-dueled Fresno State's Jamie Southern 2-1. Vitek, a product of Taylor High School in Katy, Texas, held the 10th-ranked Bulldogs to one unearned run on two hits with no walks and 10 strikeouts, defeating the reigning national player of the week Southern. Two days later, Vitek solidified her all-tournament status at the Hallowell Classic with an eight-inning, 12-strikeout, three-hit shutout of Boston. Then, she tossed six and one-third scoreless innings en route to the victory as Baylor shutout then-No. 21 Texas A&M 4-0 two weeks ago in the Big 12 Conference opener. ... In 28 appearances this season, Vitek has allowed a run just six times and more than one run just twice. She has not allowed a run in her first 20.2 innings of Big 12 play.
FOUR LADY BEARS ALREADY IN STEALS TOP 10
Head coach Glenn Moore focused on increasing team speed with his 2001 signing class, and through 39 games that emphasis is apparent. Sophomore OF Kelly Levesque, who transferred to Baylor from Louisiana State, and freshman SS Kim Wilmoth share the team lead with 16 stolen bases, that figure already ranks as the fourth-best season totals in school history. Meanwhile, junior 2B Stacey Hundley is eighth all-time with 12 steals, and freshman OF Carrie Leerberg is tied for ninth with 11. As a team, the Lady Bears have swiped 81 bases this season, tied for second in school history and just 13 shy of the school record established in 1996.
MORE THIEVERY
Five of the top 11 stolen base threats in Baylor history are currently wearing the Green and Gold. Junior 2B Stacey Hundley is third in school history with 33 career stolen bases, while junior OF Sarah Caudle is fifth with 26. Meanwhile, three players have cracked the top 10 in their first seasons at Baylor. Sophomore OF Kelly Levesque and freshman SS Kim Wilmoth are tied for sixth all-time with 16 thefts, freshman OF Carrie Leerberg is tied for ninth with 11.
CAUDLE TIES BOTH TRIPLES MARKS
With four triples on the season, junior OF Sarah Caudle is tied with Lyn Hill (1996-1999) for first all-time at Baylor with seven career triples. Furthermore, Caudle has already tied the school mark for three-baggers in a season, matching Kristin Barton's 1996 total. Caudle currently ranks in the top 10 on 11 career offensive lists at Baylor.
LADY BEARS GO NO-NO CRAZY
Entering the 2002 season, there had been just four no-hitters thrown by Baylor pitchers in the program's history. The Lady Bears have now thrown four in their last 16 games. Katie Decker got things started with a complete-game no-hitter Feb. 15 against Stephen F. Austin. One week later, Joni Miller combined with Cristin Vitek and Decker to no-hit SFA in a five-inning 8-0 victory. The next day, Baylor tossed a pair of no-hitters. Miller pulled the feat in a seven-inning, 3-0 win over Creighton, Vitek and Decker then combined to no-hit SFA again, this time 10-0 in five innings. Baylor pushed its streak of consecutive innings without allowing a hit to 22 innings before Joni Miller surrendered a leadoff home run in the fourth inning of the Feb. 23 Akron game.
BIG 12 COACHES TAB BAYLOR SIXTH
Baylor was picked to finished sixth in the Big 12 Conference this season, according to the preseason coaches' poll. The Lady Bears were 38-22 overall last season, finishing sixth in the Big 12 with a 7-9 league mark. Defending champion Nebraska was the overwhelming favorite in the preseason poll, garnering 78 total points and seven of 10 first-place votes. Oklahoma, which claimed the Big 12 Tournament title last year, was picked second with 72 total points and two first-place nods. Texas was third with 65 points and the final first-place selection. Kansas (52 points) was picked fourth, followed by Texas A&M (49), Baylor (42), Oklahoma State (32), Texas Tech (28), Missouri (23) and Iowa State (9).
TRANSFERS FIND HOME AT BAYLOR
Four members of the 2002 Lady Bears' squad transferred to Baylor from other schools, three coming in this season and all three from four-year schools. Last season, Kourtny Westerfeld joined the Baylor program after spending one season at nearby McLennan Community College. This season, the Lady Bears welcome sophomores Danelle Arnold and Katie Decker from fellow Big 12 Conference institution Nebraska, and sophomore Kelly Levesque from Southeastern Conference power Louisiana State.
Player Prev. School StatusDanelle Arnold Nebraska sophomore CKatie Decker Nebraska sophomore RHPKelly Levesque Louisiana State sophomore SSKourtny Westerfeld McLennan CC junior 1B
BAYLOR ADDS 3 EARLY SIGNEES
Head coach Glenn Moore signed four players to National Letters of Intent last fall during the early signing period. Joining the Lady Bears' program next year will be 3B/C Amber Daniel, SS Kelly Osburn and SS/OF Harmony Schwethelm. Daniel, a 1999 graduate of Vanguard High School in Waco, Texas, will come to Baylor from Temple (Texas) College. Osburn preps at Elkins High School in Missouri City, Texas, and Schwethelm attends Smithson Valley High School in San Antonio, Texas.
GOBAYLORBEARS.COM
Baylor's official athletic web site can be found at www.GoBaylorBears.com. The comprehensive site, which includes releases, photos, biographical sketches and audio broadcasts, is part of the FANSonly Network. FANSonly currently hosts sites for more than 100 universities, including eight Big 12 schools.
OVER THE AIR
Selected Baylor softball games can be heard live on KRZI-AM (1660/1580) in Waco this season. John Morris, "Voice of the Bears" and a veteran broadcaster of all sports, will handle play-by-play duties, while Baylor assistant director of media relations Larry Little, a veteran broadcaster of baseball, softball, basketball and soccer, will provide color analysis. Baylor's broadcast schedule for the 2002 season is as follows:
Date Day Opponent TimeMarch 20 Wed. at Texas Tech (DH) 2:00 p.m.March 27 Wed. TEXAS 6:30 p.m.April 6 Sat. at Missouri 7:00 p.m.April 14 Sun. IOWA STATE NoonApril 20 Sat. at Oklahoma State 2:00 p.m.May 1-3 Wed.-Fri. at Big 12 Tournament TBAMay 16-20 Thurs.-Mon. at NCAA Regionals TBA
BAYLOR GAMES ON THE NET
Live stats for all Baylor home games can be accessed by visiting www.GoBaylorBears.com, the official website of Baylor athletics.
INSIDE BAYLOR SPORTS TV SHOW
Inside Baylor Sports, a half-hour look at the world of Baylor athletics, airs weekly throughout Central Texas and the region. The program, co-hosted by John Morris and Lori Scott-Fogleman, airs on KCEN-TV Channel 6, Fox Sports Net Southwest and the College Channel (Waco cable channel 18). KCEN carries the show at 10:30 p.m. Sundays, and it airs at 1 p.m. Wednesdays on FSN Southwest.
UP NEXT...
Baylor hits the road for Easter weekend, traveling to Lincoln, Neb., for a two-game series against No. 4 Nebraska. The Lady Bears and the Huskers play Friday at 6 p.m. CST and Saturday at 1 p.m. CST. The Huskers leads the series 19-4, winning 4-2 and 2-1 last season in Waco.
