April 12, 2003
AMES, Iowa - Iowa State's Katie Ruby tied the game with a two-out, three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh, and a two-out Kim Wilmoth error in the bottom of the eighth gave the Cyclones an 8-7 victory over Baylor here Saturday in Big 12 Conference softball action. The Lady Bears fall to 28-20 on the season and 2-8 in league play. Iowa State improves to 15-22 and 3-7.
Baylor took an early lead with four runs on four hits and two Iowa State errors in the top of the third. However, the Cyclones began chipping away at the lead, putting solo spots on the board in the third, fourth and fifth innings. The Lady Bears pushed their lead back out to three with two runs on three hits and another ISU error in the top of the sixth.
After an Iowa State run in the bottom of the fifth, Sarah Caudle hit her seventh home run of the season and pushed Baylor's lead to 7-4. However, with two outs and two on in the bottom of the seventh, Ruby lifted a high fly ball to left-center that barely cleared the fence in front of a leaping Kelly Osburn.
The Cyclones completed the comeback in the bottom of the eighth. With the bases loaded and two outs, Lindsey Herrin bounced a chopper to Wilmoth at short. Wilmoth charged, but the ball kicked off the heel of her glove and Julia Lindsey trotted home from third.
It was just the fourth error of the season for Wilmoth, who committed 25 errors as a freshman last season. However, it was her second game-costing error this week.
Katie Decker started for Baylor and was touched for three runs, two earned, on five hits and four walks with three strikeouts in 5.0 innings. Cristin Vitek (12-11) entered the game to begin the sixth; she was tagged with the loss after allowing five runs, four earned, on four hits and two walks with one strikeout in 2.2 innings.
Wilmoth's error spoiled a 3-for-4 day at the plate with two RBI. Caudle went 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBI, and Stacey Hundley was 2-for-4 with two runs.
ISU starter Kristen Karanzias (4-7) went the distance, allowing seven runs, five earned, on 11 hits with three strikeouts.
Baylor and Iowa State conclude their two-game series here Sunday at 1 p.m. CDT.
Notes: Iowa State now leads the all-time series 6-5. Neither team has ever swept the series as Big 12 opponents. ... Caudle's home run gives Baylor 24 homers for the season, tying the school record established in 2001. ... Baylor, which out-hit Iowa State 11-9, lost for just the fourth time in 27 games this season when out-hitting the opponent. ... Wilmoth and Hundley both extended hitting streaks to five games; Hundley's is a season-best.
