Baylor
Wichita St
No. 25 Softball Shocked by Wichita State
3/1/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 1, 2003
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - Two errors led to three unearned runs and Baylor left six runners in scoring position here Saturday as the 25th-ranked Lady Bears dropped a 4-1 decision to Wichita State at the Islander Invitational, hosted by Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Baylor (17-8) was scheduled to play the host Islanders later in the day, but play was suspended due to inclement weather and heavy fog.
Baylor left the bases loaded in the top of the first and runners at first and second in the third. The Lady Bears had another scoring opportunity in the sixth. Kelly Osburn led off with a walk and moved to third when Sarah Caudle followed with a double to right-center. However, two groundouts and a pop up brought the inning to a close.
Meanwhile, the Shockers took advantage of Baylor miscues. With two outs and two on in the second, Lisa Clary lifted a ball down the right-field line. Caudle failed to make the catch, though, and both runners scored. In the third, Audrey Walters laced a two-out double to left-center, scoring Tina Lewis from first.
Wichita State added another unearned run in the fourth. One pitch after April Luce dropped a pop up in foul territory behind first base, Julie Darling hit a home run to left field.
The Lady Bears finally got on the board in the top of the seventh. Nan Wilkins led off with her first home run of the season. Walks by Stacey Hundley and Osburn surrounded a pair of walks, bringing Caudle to the plate as the tying run. However, her line drive was snagged by second baseman Lindsey Abbott.
The loss spoiled a strong outing by Cristin Vitek (9-3). She was touched for one earned run on five hits and one walk with a career-best 13 strikeouts. Shocker pitchers Katie Squires (2-1) and Lindsey Lang allowed one run on four hits, but the Lady Bears could not take advantage of seven walks.
Action in the Islander Invitational concludes here Sunday as Baylor faces Eastern Michigan at 8:30 a.m.
