Feb. 27, 2004

Box Score

Waco, Texas-Kelly Osburn's two home runs, including a grand slam, and six RBIs keyed an 8-1 rout of No. 11 Tennessee in action at the Compass Bank Invitational. Baylor defeated the Lady Vols after posting a 5-0 win over Lipscomb earlier in the day.

In the victory over the Lady Vols, Osburn set a number of first and career highs. Her record setting performance started in the second inning, when the Lady Bears posted six runs to grab a commanding lead against the Lady Vols.

After Baylor grabbed a 1-0 lead when Kim Wilmoth drew a bases loaded walk, Kelly Levesque grounded out to shortstop to score Carrie Leerberg to give BU a 2-0 lead.

When Harmony Schwethelm managed to draw a walk, it set up Osburn's first big hit of the day. On the first pitch from Tennessee hurler Stacey Jennings, Osburn drove the ball well over the right field fence for her first career grand slam, scoring Schwethelm, Wilmoth and Amber Daniel to give BU a 6-0 lead.

Tennessee scored a run of Baylor starter Cristin Vitek in the top of the sixth, but Osburn came to the plate in the bottom of the inning to put the final touches on the Baylor victory.

Osburn followed a Schwethelm single to left field, by belting a 2-1 pitch over the center field for her second home run of the day, giving Baylor an 8-1 lead.

Vitek retired the Lady Vols in order in the seventh to give Baylor its second consecutive victory over a ranked team. Baylor defeat No. 20 Cal State Fullerton 2-1 at last weekend's Palm Springs Classic.

Osburn set a number of career highs in the game, recording eight total bases, six RBIs and two home runs. It marked the first time in her career she hit multiple home runs in a game.

She was the first Lady Bear to hit two home-runs in a game since Holly Fields hit two against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Feb. 24, 2001.

Vitek (6-2) pitched her fourth complete game of the season, allowing only one run on four hits while striking out nine Tennessee batters.

Jennings (1-3) took the loss for the Lady Vols, as she allowed six runs on six hits in three innings of work.

In the first game of the day, Baylor cruised to a 5-0 victory over Lipscomb behind the performance of Lisa Ferguson, who pitched her fourth complete game and second shutout of the season.

With no score after the first three innings, Baylor scored three runs in the fourth inning to grab a 3-0 lead. April Luce doubled to left field to score Osburn to give BU a 1-0 lead. Luce scored to give Baylor a 2-0 lead and Danelle Arnold ended the scoring in the inning, driving in Leerberg to give the Lady Bears a 3-0 lead.

Baylor added two insurance runs in the sixth, as Ferguson retired the Bison easily in the sixth and seventh to preserve the victory.

For the game, Ferguson (4-1) allowed no runs on only three hits while striking out five.

Catalano (1-5) took the loss for Lipscomb, allowing three runs on six hits in four innings of work.

In other action at the Compass Bank Invitational, Louisiana Tech defeated Lipscomb 2-1 as No. 11 Tennessee cruised to a 9-1 victory over La. Tech.

The Compass Invitational will conclude tomorrow, as predicted rain has forced Sunday's scheduled games to be moved to Saturday. Baylor will now play Louisiana Tech at 9:00 a.m., followed by Tennessee versus Lipscomb at 11:00 a.m.

The first round playoff games will be held at 1:00 and 3:00 p.m., with the consolation game to take place at 5:00 p.m. and the championship game to be held at 7:00 p.m.