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BAYLOR
VS.
OKLAHOMA CITY
5:00 P.M. CST (DH)
APRIL 2, 2002
GETTERMAN STADIUM
WACO, TEXAS
Baylor returns to action Tuesday, hosting NAIA two-time defending national champion Oklahoma City for a doubleheader. First pitch of the first game is set for 5 p.m. with the second game twenty minutes following the conclusion of the opener. Baylor (35-10) is coming off a 1-0 loss Saturday at No. 4 Nebraska. The Lady Bears split the weekend series with the Huskers, winning 1-0 Friday. OKC (28-6) swept a doubleheader from Midland Lutheran 10-0 and 1-0 last Thursday. Live stats for both games will be available at www.GoBaylorBears.com, the official website of Baylor Athletics and a member of FANSOnly Network.
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 212-74 (.741), 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 OKLAHOMA CITY SERIES
Baylor and Oklahoma City meet for the 18th and 19th times Tuesday with Baylor holding a 10-7 advantage in the all-time series. The Lady Bears have won three straight against the Stars, taking both ends of last season's doubleheader 1-0, in a series that dates back to the 1983 season. Baylor is 6-4 against Oklahoma City in games played in Waco, 3-1 at Getterman Stadium.
MOORE vs. OKLAHOMA CITY
Baylor head coach Glenn Moore is 2-0 in his career against Oklahoma City. Last season's two Lady Bear wins were Moore's first games against the Stars.
THE OKLAHOMA CITY STARS
Oklahoma City (28-6) is in its 15th year under the direction of head coach Phil McSpadden. He has a career record of 788-187, all coming at OKC. McSpadden has been named NAIA National Coach of the Year six times, including each of the past two seasons.
OKC Notes: The Stars are the nation's top ranked team in NAIA. ... OKC has won back-to-back NAIA national titles, their fifth and sixth titles in the last eight years. ... As a team, the Stars are hitting .322 with 30 home runs and 6.7 runs per game. Seven regular starters are hitting .300 or better. ... Senior OF Stephanie Grange leads the OKC bats with a .373 average, 11 home runs and 43 RBI. She also leads the team with 11 doubles, 34 runs scored, a .764 slugging percentage and a .435 on base percentage. ... In the circle, the Stars have a staff ERA of 0.99 with 14 shutouts and 308 strikeouts in 219.2 innings. Opponents are hitting just .135 against the Stars. ... Defending NAIA Player of the Year senior P/OF Alexandra Boily heads the staff with a 12-2 record and a 0.78 ERA. She has notched 126 strikeouts in 99 innings of work. ... Junior Lindsey Voss has been equally tough, going 14-3 with a 0.89 ERA, 168 strikeouts in 94.1 innings and holding opponents to a .118 average.
LAST MEETING ... BAYLOR 1, OKLAHOMA CITY 0 - FEBRUARY 2001
It was a night for pitching as the Baylor softball team swept a doubleheader from Oklahoma City University at Getterman Stadium by identical 1-0 scores. Baylor managed just four hits on the night, but perennial NAIA power Oklahoma City could do no better, notching just four hits of its own. Naomi Fitzgerald had three of the Lady Bears' four hits and scored both of the team's runs. Kourtny Westerfeld singled in the second game for Baylor's other hit. The Bears opened Game 1 in good fashion. Fitzgerald led off with a single to right and advanced to second on an error by the OCU right fielder. After Fitzgerald stole third, Ryan Stukel walked to put runners on the corners. With two away, Stukel broke for second and got caught in a rundown. Before Stukel could be tagged out, though, Fitzgerald scored with what would prove to be the game-winning run. In Game 2 of the doubleheader, both teams were scoreless through the bottom of the fifth. Fitzgerald again led off the inning with a triple to break up Alexandra Boily's no-hitter bid. Two batter's later, a Boily wild pitch allowed Fitzgerald to score from third. Joni Miller went the distance in the first game, striking out eight while allowing just one hit and no walks. Caudle nearly matched that performance in the nightcap. She struck out eight in her six-plus innings, walking one and allowing three hits. Miller relieved Caudle in the seventh for the save.
LADY BEARS NEARING SCHOOL RECORD FOR WINS
At 35-10, Baylor is just three 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 45-game start in the program's history. The 2002 squad has already amassed at least as many wins as 16 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 5-3 record in Big 12 play, Baylor is off to its best eight-game 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
Baylor is 19-2 at home this season, already eclipsing the previous school record for home wins in a season. Last Saturday's 2-1 loss to Kansas snapped a school-record 24-game home winning streak that dated back to last season. Still intact, though, is Baylor's 20-game home winning streak against non-conference opponents. In two seasons under head coach Glenn Moore, Baylor is 34-8 at Getterman Stadium. The Lady Bears are 48-21 in the stadium's four-year existence.
LAST TIME OUT ... No. 4 NEBRASKA 1, BAYLOR 0
One night earlier, Baylor defeated No. 4 Nebraska 1-0 on a solo home run by Danelle Arnold. Saturday, it was the Huskers turn, defeating Baylor 1-0 on an Amanda Buchholz solo home run. Buchholz led off the third with her sixth homer of the season, ripping Cristin Vitek's 0-1 offering over the fence in right-center. Nebraska only had one other hit, an Amber Burgess double to left-center with two outs in the fourth. Vitek (15-5) took the tough-luck loss, allowing only Buchholz's home run and a walk with four strikeouts in two and one-third innings of work. Katie Decker pitched the final three and two thirds, holding the Huskers to one hit with one strikeout. Leigh Ann Walker (16-2) picked up the win for Nebraska. She held the Baylor bats in check, allowing only a a Kim Wilmoth infield single to lead off the third and a pair of walks with nine strikeouts.
GETTERMAN ATTENDANCE CONTINUES TO GROW
Through 16 home dates, Getterman Stadium has drawn 6,036 fans this season. That is a Getterman record, eclipsing last year's total of 5,556. Getterman saw a crowd of 690 fans last Wednesday for Baylor's game against No. 23 Texas. 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, five of the seven largest crowds and seven of the 10 largest crowds in the stadium's four-year history have come this season. Since Getterman Stadium opened May 1, 1999, there have been 15 dates of 400 or more fans, Baylor is 18-4 on those dates, sweeping five doubleheaders, splitting two others and losing two single games.
BAYLOR INCHES CLOSER TO NFCA TOP 25
For the fifth straight week, Baylor received votes in this week's USA Today/NFCA Coaches Top 25, ranking first among teams also receiving votes in this week's poll. The Lady Bears gained 38 total points, 12 less than No. 25 Ohio State. Baylor spent seven weeks in the Top 25 last season, reaching as high as No. 19.
VITEK ON PACE FOR STRIKEOUT RECORD
Freshman LHP Cristin Vitek moved into fourth place on Baylor's single-season strikeout chart over the weekend. She now has 145 whiffs on the season, three shy of Joni Miller's third-place 148 from last season. Vitek is on pace to break the school mark of 183, established by Stacey Allison in her freshman campaign of 1996.
WHO'S HOT ... WHO'S NOT
HOT: Baylor pitchers are 7-3 with a 0.51 ERA over the last 10 games. In that time, the Lady Bears have held opponents to a .190 batting average with six shutouts. ... Sophomore OF Kelly Levesque is hitting .308 (8-for-26) with four runs, four walks and a .424 on base percentage in her last 10 games. ... Sophomore RHP Katie Decker has not allowed a run in her last 15.2 innings of work. ... Junior RHP Joni Miller has not allowed an earned run in her last 15.2 innings.
NOT: Baylor is hitting just .191 (43-for-225) with one home runs in its last 10 games. ... Six regular starters are hitting below .200 during that span. ... Junior 1B Kourtny Westerfeld is hitless in her last 18 at bats. ... Senior 3B Kristen Lancaster has gone 27 at bats without a home run.
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.
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.
FOUR LADY BEARS ALREADY IN STEALS TOP 10
Head coach Glenn Moore focused on increasing team speed with his 2001 signing class, and through 45 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 83 bases this season, second in school history and just 11 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 27. 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 hosts another non-conference doubleheader in mid-week action. The Lady Bears host Texas A&M-Corpus Christi for a pair of games Thursday at 5 p.m. CST.
