April 13, 2002
Box Score
WACO, Texas - Baylor's 22nd-ranked softball team managed just two hits in a stunning 2-0 loss to Iowa State here Saturday in Big 12 Conference action. The game was delayed one hour, one minute due to lightning and rain prior to the start of the bottom of the fifth inning.
With the loss, the Lady Bears fall to 40-13 overall and 7-5 in conference play. Iowa State improves to 15-15 and 5-5.
Baylor squandered a golden opportunity in the bottom of the first and never seemed to back on track offensively. Kelly Levesque led off the game with an infield single. Stacey Hundley then reached thanks to an error by ISU shortstop Julia Lindsey. However, Levesque tried to advance to third on the play and was thrown out.
Sarah Caudle followed with a bouncer to Cyclone second baseman Molly McNertney, Caudle was safe at first, though, when first baseman Lindsey Herrin dropped McNertney's throw. Hundley tried to advance to third on the play but was thrown out. Caudle was then thrown out at second, trying to advance on the throw to third.
After that, Baylor managed just one hit and a walk. Nan Wilkins led off the third with a single up the middle. However, she was doubled off on the next pitch when Kourtny Westerfeld popped up a bunt to third.
Iowa State broke the ice in the fifth with an unearned run. With two outs in the inning, Amberly Lessenger and Kristin Shipley had back-to-back singles. Lindsey then lifted a ball into shallow left-center that Baylor's Carrie Leerberg dropped, allowing Lessenger to score from second.
The Cyclones added an insurance run in the top of the seventh. Katie Ruby blasted a solo home run over the wall in center, pushing the ISU lead to 2-0.
Cristin Vitek (15-6) went the distance and dropped her third straight decision. She allowed two runs, one earned, on six hits with a walk and five strikeouts. Erica Martinez silenced the Baylor bats with a complete-game shutout. Martinez allowed two hits with a walk and five strikeouts.
Baylor and Iowa State conclude the two-game series here Sunday at noon. The game will be broadcast live on KRZI 1580/1660 AM in the Waco area.
