Lady Bears Softball Hosts Compass Bank Invitational
2/26/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
Feb. 26, 2004
Baylor returns home to host the Compass Bank Invitational Feb. 27-29, 2004 at Getterman Stadium. Nationally-ranked Tennessee (13/11), Lipscomb and Louisiana Tech travel to Baylor to participate in the round-robin tournament. Following opening round play, the teams will be seeded and will square-off in a single-elimination tournament to determine the champion. Baylor's opening round match-up with the Lady Vols will mark the second time this season the teams have met. The Lady Bears fell to Tennessee, 2-0, in action at last weekend's Palm Springs Classic. Baylor will open the tournament against Lipscomb on Friday, Feb. 27, at 3:00 p.m. The tournament will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Friday with Louisiana Tech facing Lipscomb in opening round action.
HEAD COACH Glenn Moore
Glenn Moore is in his fourth season as Baylor's head coach, coming to Waco after a stellar three-year stint 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. The following season, he guided the Lady Bears to even greater successes with more than 50 team and individual, single-game and single-season school records. Baylor finished 46-18 overall and 10-8 in the Big 12 Conference, establishing school marks for victories in a season, conference victories in a season and highest conference finish (fourth). Moore led Baylor to a third straight 30-win season in 2003, and the Lady Bears cracked the NFCA Top 25 for the third consecutive year. During the 2003 season, Moore claimed his 100th victory as Baylor's head coach with the Lady Bears 3-0 triumph against Texas Tech. He is now 124-74 (.626) in three-plus seasons at Baylor. Moore has a career record of 263-116 (.694); he posted a 22-17 mark in his first year as a collegiate head coach at William Carey in Mississippi. Moore is 241-97 (.713) at the Division I level.
BAYLOR HOSTS COMPASS BANK INVITATIONAL
Baylor returns to Getterman Stadium to host the Compass Bank Invitational Feb. 27-29, 2004. The tournament includes nationally-ranked Tennessee as well as Lipscomb and Louisiana Tech. No. 11 Tennessee enters with a record of 13-2 with the only loss coming at the hands of Oregon State and top-ranked UCLA. The Volunteers feature standout pitcher Monica Abbott. Already this season, Abbott has a record of 12-0 in 74.1 innings of work, allowing only nine runs on 31 hits, while striking out 146 batters. At the plate, the Lady Vols are led by Amber Rhinehart. Already this season, Rheinhart has belted a team-high six home runs and has recorded 22 RBIs. She currently leads the Lady Vols with a .447 batting average. Baylor and Tennessee have already met once this season, with the Lady Vols claiming a 2-0 victory at the Palm Springs Classic on Feb. 20. Louisiana Tech comes into the tournament with a record of 7-8, having lost three straight games, the last two coming at the hands of nationally-ranked Louisiana State. Tech opened the season with an amazing 30-0 victory over Jackson State. The Lady Techsters are led by Amber Miles, who leads the team with an average of .353 and 11 runs scored. Lipscomb enters with a record of 6-5 overall. The Lady Bison feature pitcher Sara Meek, who has compiled a record of 5-1 with a 1.98 ERA. On the season, she has recorded 29 strikeouts in 41 innings of work, allowing only nine earned runs on the season.
LADY BEARS WIN TWO AT PALM SPRINGS CLASSIC
Baylor posted a 2-2 record at the Palm Springs Classic this past weekend, posting victories over No. 20 Cal State Fullerton and Bethune-Cookman. After falling twice on the first day of the tournament, the Lady Bears responded with two victories on the second day of the classic. Baylor opened the second day with a 2-1 victory over No. 20 Cal-State Fullerton. Tied 1-1 heading into the seventh, Baylor won when Carrie Leerberg scored on an errant throw to third base in an attempt to catch her stealing. The victory marked the 10th time under head coach Glenn Moore Baylor has knocked off a ranked opponent. The Lady Bears followed with a 4-0 victory over Bethune-Cookman. Baylor scored three runs in the first inning and never looked back as the Lady Bears held the Wildcats to only one hit. Lisa Ferguson came into relief for Cristin Vitek to record her second save of the season. Baylor fell to No. 12 Tennessee and top-ranked UCLA during action on the first day of the tournament. In the 2-0 loss against the Lady Vols, Baylor threatened on several occasions, however, Tennessee pitcher Monica Abbott managed to withstand the threats to record the complete-game shutout. In the second game of the day, Baylor fell to UCLA 9-0 in a contest that marked the first time in school history Baylor had faced the nation's top-ranked team.
Cristin Vitek NAMED BIG 12 PITCHER OF THE WEEK
For her performance at the Palm Springs Classic, junior left-handed pitcher Cristin Vitek was named Big 12 Conference Pitcher of the Week. The honor marks the second time this season a Lady Bear has been named pitcher of the week, as Baylor's Lisa Ferguson earned the conference's first honor of the season. Vitek went 2-1 on the weekend at the Palm Springs Classic with an ERA of 0.55. In 12.2 innings of work, the Katy, Texas, native allowed only six hits and one earned run while striking out 13. Opponents had a batting average of just .136 on the weekend against the left-handed hurler. Vitek allowed only one walk on the weekend as she recorded both of the Lady Bears victories. In the victory over nationally-ranked Cal State Fullerton, Vitek came into the game in relief of Ferguson and pitched 3.2 innings while allowing only one hit and no walks while striking out five. She faced only one batter over the minimum against Bethune-Cookman, pitching 5.0 innings of one hit ball while striking out five. Her selection marks the eighth time in school history a Lady Bear pitcher has earned the honor. It is the second time in her career she has been selected pitcher of the week, with her first selection coming on March 12, 2002.
BAYLOR VERSUS RANKED OPPONENTS
Baylor faces a ranked opponent for the fourth time this season, as the Lady Bears will host No. 11 Tennessee this weekend. Baylor is 15-80 since 1997 against ranked opponents. So far this season, Baylor is 1-2 against ranked opponents, defeating No. 20 Cal-State Fullerton and falling to No. 12 Tennessee and top-ranked UCLA. The last time the Lady Bears defeated a top five opponent was on March 22, 2002, when Baylor blanked No. 4 Nebraska 1-0. Since head coach Glenn Moore took over the program, Baylor has won ten games against ranked teams.
BAYLOR STIRS UP DUST ON THE BASE PATHS
Last season, the Lady Bears established a new single-season record for stolen bases with 119. This season, Baylor is off to another fast start in the category as the Lady Bears have swiped 26 bases through the first 14 games of the year. At the Getterman Classic, Baylor established a new Big 12 Conference record for most steals in a game, with 11 in an 8-4 victory over Wichita State. Kelly Osburn had three, April Luce had two as six others added a steal each. The 11 steals marked the 10th highest total in NCAA history. Osburn currently leads the team in steals with five as 11 Lady Bears have stolen at least one base this season. While Baylor has stolen 20 bases on 30 attempts this season, opponents have been much more timid on the bases. So far this season, Lady Bear opponents have only one steal on four attempts.
FERGUSON THROWS SEVENTH NO-HITTER IN SCHOOL HISTORY
Freshman Lisa Ferguson tossed the seventh no-hitter in Baylor history with her eight-inning, complete game performance against Auburn University. The Lady Bears won the game with two runs in the top of the eighth inning as Ferguson retired the Tigers in order in the bottom of the inning to record the first no-hitter since Cristin Vitek and Katie Decker combined to shut-down Stephen F. Austin on Feb. 22, 2002.
Kelly Levesque MOVING UP CAREER CHARTS Senior center fielder Kelly Levesque continues her steady climb up the Baylor career charts. Levesque now ranks ninth in Baylor history for career hits (121), tied for sixth in steals (32) and ranks ninth in total bases (164). Levesque will continue to move-up in almost every major offensive category throughout the season, as she ranks near the top in every category except for sacrifice hits. She is currently Baylor's career leader in the hit by pitch category with 16. She is currently tied in three career categories as she ranks tied for seventh in career doubles (19), third in triples (6) and fourth in sacrifice flies (3). Levesque also ranks fifth in walks (49) and eighth in runs scored (68).
Harmony Schwethelm FINDS WAY INTO LINEUP
After starting the season as a reserve, sophomore utility player Harmony Schwethelm has used a hot bat to work her way into the regular Baylor line-up. Heading into this weekend's tournament Schwethelm has an average of .500 on the season, going seven for 14 with one RBI and four runs scored. She also has compiled an on base percentage of .533 and has stolen two bases on the season. During the course of the young season, Schwethelm has had several key hits for the Lady Bears. In the victory over Sam Houston State, she went three for threw and drove in the winning run. Schwethelm also broke up UCLA's Lisa Dodd's no-hit bid with a single in the fifth inning.
LADY BEARS TO APPEAR ON THE PRICE IS RIGHT
The Baylor softball team will appear on the 6,000th episode of The Price is Right, to air in the Waco area on CBS-affiliate KWTX Channel 10 at 10:00 a.m. on March 1, 2004. The Lady Bears attended a taping of the popular game show while in Los Angeles, Calif., before heading to Palm Springs, Calif., to play in the Palm Springs Classic. "We always try to include a unique experience for the team each time we travel," head coach Glenn Moore said. "The fact we were a part of television history means it was an experience we will never forget." In the episode, Lady Bears freshman infielder Kylie Conroy appears as a contestant.
GETTERMAN ATTENDANCE CONTINUES TO GROW
In 18 home dates, Getterman Stadium attracted 8,157 fans last season. Baylor ranked 13th nationally in total attendance for the second consecutive season. Getterman's average attendance of 453 fans established a school record, breaking the 2002 mark of 402, and ranked 18th nationally, a program best. Six of the 13 largest crowds in the stadium's five-year history came last season, including the two largest crowds - 979 vs. Texas (April 16) and 840 vs. Nebraska (April 5). Baylor has finished 21st or better in total attendance and 23rd or better in average attendance nationally each of the past three seasons.
BAYLOR-TEAM USA TICKETS ON SALE
Tickets for Baylor softball's March 11 two-game exhibition with the U.S. Olympic Team at Getterman Stadium are on sale through the Baylor Ticket Office. The Lady Bears and Team USA play at 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. The games are part of the Olympic Team's college tour in preparation for the Games of the 28th Olympiad in Athens, Greece this summer. The event is in association with Texas ASA District 23. Single-game tickets are $15; tickets for both games can be purchased together for $25. The Team USA doubleheader is not part of the Baylor softball season ticket package. The Baylor Ticket Office is located in the North end zone complex at Floyd Casey Stadium. Ticket orders also can placed via phone at (254) 710-1000 or (800) BAYLOR-U ext. 7.
BAYLOR IN THE NATIONAL POLLS
For the second straight year, Baylor began the season listed among teams also receiving votes in the national rankings. Baylor began the 2003 season as the second team out of the NFCA Preseason Coaches Poll and eventually cracked the rankings at No. 25 for two weeks in March. The Lady Bears have been ranked nationally during each of the past three seasons. Defending national champion UCLA remains at No. 1 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball rankings, garnering all 20 first-place votes. Baylor played UCLA Feb. 20 at the Palm Springs Classic in California, falling 9-0 to the Bruins. Arizona, California, Washington and Oklahoma currently round out the top five. Nebraska is ranked 14th, Texas is ranked 16th and Texas A&M is 25th, giving the Big 12 Conference four teams in the Top 25. Nine 2004 Baylor opponents were ranked in the ESPN.com/USA Softball preseason rankings.
TRANSFERS FIND HOME AT BAYLOR
Six members of the 2004 Lady Bears' squad transferred to Baylor from other schools, two coming in this season and four coming from four-year schools. In 2002, Danelle Arnold and Katie Decker transferred to Baylor from Nebraska, while Kelly Levesque transferred from Louisiana State. Last season, Amber Daniel joined the Baylor program after two all-America seasons at Temple [Texas] College. This year, Baylor adds two more transfers. Melissa Maler followed Daniel from Temple College, while Tessa Lynam followed Levesque from Louisiana State. Both are juniors for the 2004 season.
Player Prev. School Status Danelle Arnold Nebraska senior OF/C Amber Daniel Temple College senior 3B/C Katie Decker Nebraska senior RHP Kelly Levesque Louisiana State senior CF Tessa Lynam Louisiana State junior RHP/IF Melissa Maler Temple College junior UTL
BAYLOR ADDS 4 EARLY SIGNEES
Head coach Glenn Moore signed four student-athletes to National Letters of Intent during the fall early signing period: Jordan Daniels, Tiffany Hartsell, Nicole Jackson and Katie Ottens. Daniels is a senior at Tomball [Texas] High School where she competes in track for the Cougars. She plays softball for the Impact Gold travel team. Last year, she a member of the ASA national qualifier Spring-Klein Sliders, with whom she hit .523 with a .787 on base percentage. Hartsell will be a sophomore this spring at Navarro Junior College in Corsicana, Texas. She earned all-region honors as a freshman at Navarro. Hartsell prepped at Poteet High School in Mesquite, Texas, where she earned District 13-4A MVP honors in 2001 and 2002. She was a second-team all-area selection by the Dallas Morning News in 2002 after hitting .541 with five home runs and 36 RBI. Jackson, a left-handed pitcher from Midway High School in Hewitt, Texas, posted a 15-1 record with a 0.21 ERA last spring for the Pantherettes. She registered 102 strikeouts with only six walks and 39 hits allowed in 102.0 innings pitched. Jackson led Midway to the 2003 regional finals and was named District 15-4A Most Valuable Player. She played club ball for the Texas High Voltage Gold. Ottens, a shortstop, will come to Baylor from Hollywood Christian School in Sunrise, Fla. She was named second-team all-state by the Florida Sports Writers Association and first-team all-Broward County by The Miami Herald after hitting .430 with 37 runs scored and 21 RBI last spring. Ottens led Hollywood Christian to the 2003 state title, the school's fourth since 1995. Ottens played club ball for the Davie Power.
BAYLORBEARS.COM
Baylor's official athletic web site can be found at www.BaylorBears.com. The comprehensive site, which includes releases, photos, biographical sketches and audio broadcasts, is part of the Official College Sports Network. OCSN currently hosts sites for more than 100 universities, including four Big 12 schools.
BAYLOR SOFTBALL RADIO NETWORK
For the third straight season, the Baylor Radio Network provides live play-by-play broadcast for selected Baylor softball games. Larry Little handles play-by-play duties, while Lady Bear Katie Decker provides color analysis. Broadcasts can be heard on KRZI-AM 1660/1580AM in Waco, the flagship station of the Baylor Radio Network. Broadcasts also are available worldwide on the Internet at www.BaylorBears.com and Yahoo!Broadcast.com.
2004 Radio Schedule March 29 OKLAHOMA (DH) 3:00 p.m. March 31 TEXAS A&M 6:30 p.m. April 9 TEXAS TECH 2:00 p.m. April 10 TEXAS TECH 1:00 p.m. April 14 at Texas A&M 6:30 p.m. April 21 at Texas 6:30 p.m. April 24 IOWA STATE 2:00 p.m. May 5 TEXAS 6:30 p.m. May 13-16 at Big 12 Tournament TBA May 19-23 at NCAA Regionals TBA May 26-31 at NCAA College World Series TBA
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 travels on the road again next weekend, this time to the Speedline Classic in Tampa, Fla. The Lady Bears open play on Thursday, March 4, when BU takes on nationally-ranked Iowa and Troy State. The Lady Bears will also face Team USA at the tournament, with the game scheduled for Friday, March 5, at 7:00 p.m.
