SB Hosts UTA, Travels To North Texas
3/14/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
|  |
| ||||
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14 | 4 P.M. Stats |  Listen | | WEDNESDAY,MARCH 14 | 6 P.M. Stats | Listen | ||||
 | ||||||
The No. 22 Baylor softball team (22-3) will look to keep up its torrid pace, wrapping up its schedule of 11 games in 13 days, as it plays host to UT Arlington (16-10) on Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. before traveling to North Texas (12-10) on Wednesday for a doubleheader beginning at 4:00 p.m.
"We had a great trip out west and accomplished quite a bit as a team," head coach Glenn Moore said. "But we have to be extremely focused for these next three games because we are facing quality opponents and we want to continue to keep this momentum rolling."
The Lady Bears are coming off a series win at No. 4 Arizona, taking two-of-three from the 2010 national runners-up. Baylor outscored the Wildcats, 16-11 during the series, marking the first non-conference series win by an Arizona opponent since before 1999. Baylor wrapped up its eight-game, 10-day road trip by going 6-2, including 4-1 against ranked opponents.
BU is led, offensively, by senior shortstop Dani Leal's .379 average to go with team-leading seven home runs and 17 RBI. In the circle, Whitney Canion ranks second in the Big 12 with a 0.61 ERA accompanied by an 11-2 record and 119 strikeouts in 80.2 innings. The sophomore lefty just passed Lisa Ferguson and Stacy Allison for second on the program's all-time strikeout list, and sits 146 strikeouts away from tying Cristin Vitek's mark of 759.
UTA enters Tuesday's contest winners of three of its last four, including a series win at Southeastern Louisiana this past weekend. The Mavericks are led by Rebecca Collom's .359 average, five home runs and 19 RBI. In the circle, Callie Collins is 9-3 with a 1.23 ERA. Baylor leads the all-time series 48-26-1, including 31-8 in Waco. The Lady Bears have won six-straight against the Mavericks.
North Texas will host BU after defeating No. 17 Louisiana-Lafayette on Sunday in the final game of the series. Lesley Hirsch leads with a .373 average, with Brittany Simmons guiding the pitching staff with a 6-6 mark and 2.48 ERA. Baylor, which leads the all-time series 19-6, will be looking to avenge last seasons sweep by UNT in Waco. The Mean Green have won three off the last four meeting between the schools
