No. 23 Softball Travels to Oklahoma State

Softball 4/19/2002 12:00:00 AM

Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader

No. 23 BAYLOR
at
OKLAHOMA STATE

APRIL 20 * 2:00 P.M. CDT
APRIL 21 * 1:00 P.M. CDT
COWGIRL FIELD
STILLWATER, OKLA.

No. 23 Baylor returns to action this weekend, traveling to Stillwater, Okla., for a two-game Big 12 Conference series at Oklahoma State. The Lady Bears and the Cowgirls play Saturday at 2 p.m. CDT and Sunday at 1 p.m. Baylor (44-13, 9-5) is coming off a doubleheader sweep of Sam Houston State at home Thursday night, winning the opener 8-2 and the nightcap 8-0 in six innings. Oklahoma State played a pair of midweek games this week, falling to No. 1 Arizona 4-2 Tuesday night and to No. 13 Fresno State 3-1 Wednesday night, both games were played in Oklahoma City, Okla. Saturday's game will be broadcast live on KRZI 1660/1580 AM in the Waco area with a live feed at www.GoBaylorBears.com, the offical website of Baylor Athletics and a member of the Official College Sports 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 221-77 (.742), 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 221-77 (.742) in his career, holds a 199-60 record (.768) at the Division I level.

THE OKLAHOMA STATE SERIES
Baylor and Oklahoma State meet for the 23rd and 24th times this weekend with the Cowgirls leading the all-time series 16-6. OSU has won six of the last eight meetings, including a 7-3 decision in pool play at the UTA College Classic earlier this season. That defeat snapped Baylor's school-record tying season-opening, seven-game winning streak. Baylor is just 1-10 all-time against OSU at Stillwater, the lone victory came in the back end of a doubleheader April 6, 1997. Last season, the Lady Bears posted a pair of 1-0 victories over the Cowgirls at Getterman Stadium, winning in 14 innings the first day and in eight innings the second day.

MOORE vs. OKLAHOMA STATE
Baylor head coach Glenn Moore is 2-1 in his career against Oklahoma State with all three meetings coming while at Baylor.

THE OKLAHOMA STATE COWGIRLS
Oklahoma State (26-17, 5-6) is in its first year under the direction of former assistant coach Margaret Rebenar, who moved into the head coach position this season after the retirement of Sandy Fischer. Rebenar is 26-17 in her first season as a collegiate head coach.

OSU Notes: The Cowgirls are second among teams also receiving votes in this week's USA Today/NFCA Top 25. ... OSU has lost three straight and five of its last seven. While the Cowgirls have not won more the four straight since opening the season with eight consecutive victories, they have not lost four straight this season. ... Oklahoma State is hitting .246 as a team, ninth in the Big 12 according to the April 18 statistical rankings, and the Cowgirls only Iowa State (15-of-29) attempts fewer stolen bases than OSU (18-of-30). Sophomore OF Jade Lindly is the top bat in the Cowgirl lineup with a .319 batting average and a Big 12 best 12 home runs. ... Junior C Ryan Realmuto is third on the team in average (.299), second in homers (9) and first in RBI (29). ... The Cowgirls tote a team ERA of 1.34, third in the Big 12 according to the April 18 statistical rankings. No OSU pitcher has lodged a save this season. ... Junior LHP Lauren Bay anchors the staff at 17-9 with a 1.13 ERA, she is second in the conference with 254 strikeouts in 173.2 innings of work. ... Freshman OF Erika Ennis and Baylor junior RHP Joni Miller are both natives of Edmond, Okla., although Ennis prepped at Edmond North High School and Miller at Memorial.

LAST MEETING ... OKLAHOMA STATE 7, BAYLOR 3 - FEBRUARY 2002
Lauren Bay kept the Baylor bats at bay and the Cowgirl bats erupted for eight hits as OSU posted a 7-3 victory over Baylor in first-day action at the UTA College Classic in Grand Prairie, Texas. Bay allowed just one hit and a walk with 12 strikeouts in 6.2 innings of work. The Cowgirls drew first blood with four runs on three hits in the fourth and never looked back. With one out and runners on the corners, Ryan Realmuto laced a double down the left-field line to score both runners. Jade Lindy followed with a two-run homer to left, giving OSU a 4-0 lead. OSU widened its lead to 7-0 in the sixth when Realmuto, Lindly and Calli Behmer hit back-to-back-to-back solo home runs to left field. Baylor scratched for three runs in the bottom of the seventh, keyed by a two-run single off the bat of Holly Fields. However, Bay, who had come out of the game at the beginning of the inning, came back in with runners at second and third and one out to end the Baylor rally. Cristin Vitek was touched for four runs on five hits with a walk and four strikeouts in four and two-thirds innings of work. Katie Decker pitched the last two and one-third innings and was touched for the three solo homers with one strikeout.

LADY BEARS REACH 40 WINS FOR FIRST TIME EVER
Baylor's 5-4 victory two weeks ago at Missouri gave the Lady Bears 39 wins on the season, breaking the previous school record for wins in a season (38) established last season and in 1997. The following day, Baylor reached the 40-win plateau for the first time in the program's history with a 4-1 victory over Mizzou. Furthermore, the Lady Bears are on track to have the highest winning percentage At .772, the 2002 squad is well ahead of .633 clip turned in by the 1997 and 2001 teams.

BAYLOR ECLIPSES SCHOOL BIG 12 WIN MARK
With an 9-5 record in Big 12 play, Baylor has won more conference games in a season than any team in school history. Baylor posted seven Big 12 wins during the 1999 and 2001 seasons. This season's squad 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.

OTHER RECORD RECORDS
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.

LAST TIME OUT ... No. 23 BAYLOR 8-8, SAM HOUSTON STATE 2-0
Baylor broke out of a mild hitting slump with 16 runs and 18 hits in a doubleheader sweep of Sam Houston State at home Thursday night. The Lady Bears won the first game 8-2 and then needed just six frames to blank the Bearkats 8-0 in the nightcap. In the opener, Sam Houston State scored a couple of unearned runs on two Baylor errors in the top of the fifth inning to take a 2-0 lead. However, Baylor answered with four runs on four hits in the bottom of the frame. Stephanie Pomes had an RBI triple, Holly Fields had an RBI single and Kristen Lancaster had an RBI double in the inning. The Lady Bears tacked on four more runs in the sixth one four more hits. Pomes and Kelly Levesque both drove in runs during the frame with a single and a double, respectively. Katie Decker tossed her fourth complete game of the season for the victory. She allowed two unearned runs, scattered eight hits and struck out six with only one walk. Sarah Caudle went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Pomes finished 2-for-4 with two runs and a pair of RBI. In the nightcap, Baylor jumped out early with a pair of runs in the first inning. Lancaster drove in both runs with a one-out double to right-center. The Lady Bears are now 16-1 this season when scoring in the first inning. Baylor got two more runs on three hits in the fourth, thanks to an April Luce RBI groundout and a Cristin Vitek run-scoring single. After a double steal and a SHSU throwing error allowed Kim Wilmoth to put Baylor up 5-0 in the fifth, Lancaster drove in Caudle with her ninth home run of the season. Nan Wilkins put the game away in the sixth with a bases-loaded, pinch-hit single up the middle to plate Lena Keine from third. Vitek pitched her staff-best eighth complete game for the win. The freshman southpaw allowed just two hits and struckout six. Lancaster finished 3-for-3 in the nightcap with a run and four RBI. Wilmoth scored twice and was one of five Lady Bears with one hit.

BAYLOR DROPS ONE SPOT IN TOP 25
Baylor dropped one spot in this week's USA Today/NFCA Top 25, landing at No. 23 after going 1-2 last week. The Lady Bears join four other Big 12 school's in this week's rankings, Nebraska is No. 4, Oklahoma is down two spots at No. 11, Texas jumped two spots to No. 18 and Texas A&M stayed at No. 24. Three other 2002 Baylor opponent's are ranked this week. Stanford remained No. 3, Fresno State is at No. 13, and Ohio State jumped three spots to No. 22. Baylor is 3-4 against Top 25 teams this season, including two wins against Top 10 teams.

WHO'S HOT ... WHO'S NOT
HOT: Junior OF Nan Wilkins is hitting .394 (13-for-33) over the last 12 games with two home runs, seven RBI, six runs, four doubles, a triple, a .758 slugging percentage and a .412 on base percentage. ... Junior OF Sarah Caudle is hitting .368 (14-for-38) over the last 12 games with seven runs, five doubles, four RBI, a .500 slugging percentage, a .415 on base percentage and six stolen bases. ... Sophomore OF Kelly Levesque is hitting .378 (114-for-37) with 10 runs, four doubles, a triple, a home run, four RBI, a .622 slugging percentage and a .477 on base percentage over the last 10 games. ... Junior RHP Katie Decker is 3-1 with a 0.76 ERA and one save over the last 10 games, spanning seven appearances and two starts. ... Freshman SS Kim Wilmoth has not been caught stealing since Feb. 9 (her only caught stealing this season), spanning 15 attempts. ... Freshman OF Carrie Leerberg has been successful on eight consecutive stolen base attempts.

NOT: Sophomore C Danelle Arnold is hitting .120 (3-for-25) with no extra base hits over the last 10 games. ... Junior 1B Kourtny Westerfeld is hitting .143 (3-for-21) over the last 10 games.

LADY BEARS BREAK SCHOOL RECORD FOR STEALS
Junior OF Sarah Caudle provided Baylor with its 95th stolen base of the season in the first inning of Thursday's first game against Sam Houston State. With that swipe, Baylor established a school record for steals in a season, eclipsing the total of 94 established by the 1996 squad. Baylor leads the Big 12 with 101 stolen bases in 128 attempts this season.

MORE THIEVERY
Freshman SS Kim Wilmoth swiped three bases in Thursday's doubleheader, giving her a team-best 20 for the season, that ranks as third-best season total in school history. Sophomore OF Kelly Levesque is second on the squad with 18 stolen bases, fourth-all-time at Baylor. Meanwhile, freshman OF Carrie Leerberg is sixth all-time at BU with 16, junior OF Sarah Caudle is eighth all-time with 14 and junior 2B Stacey Hundley is 10th all-time with 12. This marks the first time in school history that six Lady Bears have reached double figures in steals.

VITEK ON PACE FOR STRIKEOUT RECORD
Freshman LHP Cristin Vitek is quickly closing in on the school record for strikeouts in a season. She has now whiffed 174 batters on the season, just nine shy of Stacey Allison's 1996 school record of 183 established in her freshman season.

BAYLOR PITCHING STAFF SEVENTH NATIONALLY
According to the April 16 NCAA statistical rankings, Baylor's team ERA is seventh nationally at 0.95. Stetson and UCLA lead the nation at 0.71. Individually, freshman LHP Cristin Vitek is 14th (0.76) and sophomore RHP Katie Decker is 29th (1.01).

ELSEWHERE IN THE NATIONAL STATISTICAL RANKS
Baylor's .759 winning percentage (41-13 through games of April 15) ranks 20th nationally, according to the April 16 NCAA statistical rankings. ... Junior RHP Joni Miller is tied for sixth nationally with five saves, while freshman LHP Cristin Vitek is tied for 10th nationally with four.

HOME, SWEET HOME
Baylor is 25-4 at home this season, already eclipsing the previous school record for home wins in a season. Earlier this season, the Lady Bears enjoyed a school-record 24-game home winning streak that dated back to last season. In two seasons under head coach Glenn Moore, Baylor is 40-10 (.800) at Getterman Stadium. The Lady Bears are 54-23 (.701) in the stadium's four-year existence.

GETTERMAN ATTENDANCE CONTINUES TO GROW
Through 21 home dates, Getterman Stadium has drawn 8,100 fans this season. That is a Getterman record, eclipsing last year's total of 5,556. Getterman saw a crowd of 690 fans March 27 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.

FIRST INNING SUCCESS
Through 57 games, Baylor has scored 34 first-inning runs this season. The Lady Bears are 16-1 this year when crossing the plate in the first frame. The April 4 loss to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi marked the only time this season Baylor has scored in the first inning and lost.

SUDDENLY, IT'S THE SIXTH
After scoring just 12 sixth-inning runs in the first 53 games of the season, Baylor has erupted 12 sixth-inning runs in the last four games. The Lady Bears used a five-run sixth to rally and defeat Iowa State 6-4 Sunday. Then, Baylor plated all three runs in its 3-0 victory Wednesday at No. 24 Texas A&M in the sixth frame. The run continued in both games of Thursday's doubleheader against Sam Houston State. The Lady Bears scored four runs in the sixth inning of the first game and one run in the sixth of the nightcap.

OTHER INNING FACTS AND FIGURES
Baylor has scored more runs in the third inning (46) this season than in any other inning. ... The Lady Bears have outscored their opponents 42-2 during the fifth inning. ... Baylor has outscored its opponents 117-33 in the first three innings. ... Opponents have scored 15 first-inning runs against Baylor this season, the most of any frame.

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 April 19 rankings, Baylor leads the conference with a 0.92 team ERA and a 0.88 ERA in conference games. The Lady Bears have tossed six shutouts in Big 12 play, 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 April 19 Big 12 statistical rankings, freshman LHP Cristin Vitek is ranked in the top 10 of eight categories, including ERA (2nd, 0.72), wins (t3rd, 17), innings pitched (3rd, 164.1), strikeouts (4th, 174), saves (t3rd, 4), games started (t5th, 22) and opponents' batting average (5th, .160). She also leads the Big 12 in appearances (39). In conference action, Vitek is tied for second with teammate Katie Decker in ERA (0.84), tied for second in wins (4), tied for third in innings pitched (50.0), fifth in strikeouts (50), second in appearances (12), tied for fifth in saves (1), tied for second in games started (8) and 10th in opponents' batting average (.193).

MILLER NOT TOO SHABBY EITHER
Not to be out-done, junior RHP Joni Miller is in the top 10 of seven categories, according to the April 19 Big 12 rankings. The Edmond, Okla., native is seventh in ERA (1.15), tied for fifth in wins (16), ninth in innings pitched (133.2), 10th in strikeouts (112), fifth in appearances (34), tied for first in saves (5) and tied for fifth in games started (22). In conference action, Miller is sixth in ERA (0.95), tied for sixth in wins (3), tied for third in appearances (11), tied for first in saves (3) and tied for 10th in games started (5).

LEVESQUE, CAUDLE PEPPER BIG 12 OFFENSIVE STATS
Sophomore OF Kelly Levesque appears in the top 10 of seven offensive categories, according to the April 19 Big 12 rankings. Along with leading the conference in walks (26), Levesque is 10th in batting average (.342), tied for third in hits (55), fourth in runs (34), tied for seventh in doubles (10), tied for fifth in stolen bases (18), and fourth in on base percentage (.457). Meanwhile, junior OF Sarah Caudle is 11th in batting average (.337), tied with Levesque for third in hits (55), tied for fourth in doubles (11) and tied for third in triples (4).

OTHERS IN BIG 12 STATISTICAL RANKINGS
Senior 3B Kristen Lancaster is tied for fifth with nine home runs. ... Sophomore C Danelle Arnold is tied for seventh with three triples. ... Freshman SS Kim Wilmoth is tied for third in steals (20), while freshman OF Carrie Leerberg is tied for eighth with 16 swipes. ... Sophomore RHP Katie Decker is fourth in ERA (0.93), tied for seventh with two saves and ninth in lowest opponents' batting average (.174).

BAYLOR BREAKING RECORDS LEFT AND RIGHT
The 2002 Lady Bears are on a torrid pace when it comes to eclipsing school records. Here is a look at all the marks Baylor has established this season (* denotes tied record):

SEASON - MISCELLANEOUS
* Wins (44)
* Big 12 Wins (9)
* Consecutive Wins (13)
* Home Wins (25)
* Total Home Attendance (8,100)

SEASON - BATTING, TEAM
* Runs Batted In (194)
* Triples (14)
* Bases on Balls (139)
* Stolen Bases (101)
* Extra Base Hits (103)
* Hit by Pitch (25)
* Sacrifice Flies (11)

SEASON - PITCHING, TEAM
* Shutouts (21)
* Strikeouts (357)

GAME - BATTING, TEAM
* RBI (21 vs. Southern) *
* Doubles (5 vs. Southern) *
* Triples (2 vs. Southern and Louisiana-Monroe) *
* Home Runs (3 vs. Southern) *
* Stolen Bases (6 vs. Stephen F. Austin) *
* Total Bases (38 vs. Southern)
* Extra Base Hits (10 vs. Southern)
* Sacrifice Flies (2 vs. Southern) *

GAME - PITCHING, TEAM
* Strikeouts (15 vs. Stephen F. Austin)

SEASON - BATTING, INDIVIDUAL
* Triples (4, Sarah Caudle) *
* Hit by Pitch (9, Kelly Levesque)
* Sacrifice Flies (2, Sarah Caudle, Stacey Hundley and Kristen Lancaster) *

GAME - BATTING, INDIVIDUAL
* Runs (4, April Luce vs. Southern) *
* Hits (4, Carrie Leerberg vs. Southern and April Luce vs. Southern) *
* Doubles (3, Nan Wilkins vs. Oklahoma City)
* Triples (1, 14 times) *
* Extra Base Hits (3, Nan Wilkins vs. Oklahoma City) *
* Hit by Pitch (2, Kelly Levesque vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi) *
* Sacrifice Hits (3, Stacey Hundley vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi) *
* Sacrifice Flies (1, 10 times) *

GAME - PITCHING, INDIVIDUAL
* Strikeouts (15, Joni Miller vs. Stephen F. Austin)

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).

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.

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

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. Larry Little, a veteran broadcaster of baseball, softball, basketball and soccer, will handle play-by-play duties for road games, while John Morris, "The Voice of the Bears," will handle play-by-play duties for home games. Former Baylor head coach Paula Young 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 takes the midweek off before wrapping up the regular season by hosting No. 11 Oklahoma for a two-game Big 12 Conference series. The Lady Bears and the Sooners play Saturday at 2 p.m. CDT and Sunday at 1 p.m. Senior IF Holly Fields and senior 3B Kristen Lancaster will be honored prior to the start of Sunday's game.

Print Friendly Version