April 23, 2011
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| 2
| 3
| 4 | 5
| 6
| 7
| 8 | 9 | R
| H
| E
| | 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0 | 5 | 5
| 3
| 0
| | 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0 | 1 | 1
| 5
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Pitching | IP | H
| R | ER | BB | SO | | W - Espinosa (19-5) | 3.2
| 1
| 1 | 1 | 2
| 1
| | L - Canion (19-7) | 8.1
| 5
| 5
| 5
| 5
| 6
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Batting Leaders
| AB | R
| H | RBI | BB | HR | OSU - Gearhart
| 4
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 0 | BU - Shelton
| 5
| 0
| 3
| 1
| 0
| 0 |
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WACO - No. 14 Baylor (35-10, 7-5) and No. 20 Oklahoma State (35-11, 7-4) played 8.1 innings of scoreless softball until the Cowgirls scored five runs with one out in the ninth to claim a 5-1 victory and a series sweep. The weekend attendance of 2,276 was the largest regular-season series crowd in program history.
"Whitney (Canion) threw well enough to get the win but our offense couldn't execute," head coach Glenn Moore said. "We still have very important games to play and we need to get better."
The loss marked the first time all season Baylor has lost back-to-back games. The home conference sweep was the first since April 21, 2010 against No. 13 Oklahoma.
Kathy Shelton paced the Baylor offense with three hits, two stolen bases and its lone RBI.
Canion (19-7) went 8.1 innings, allowing five hits, five earned runs, five walks and striking out six in the loss. She allowed just two hits before giving up three with one out in the ninth. Paul finished with one walk in 0.2 innings of work.
The Lady Bears stranded 10 runners on the day, making it a combined 19 for the weekend.
The Cowgirls started the scoring run in the ninth with one out on a walk by Tamara Brown. A double by Ashley Boyd off the wall in left center brought Brown home for the game's first run. A hit-by-pitch put runners at first and second, and a single to center from Amy Graham loaded the bases. Mariah Gearhart singled for an RBI, keeping the bases loaded and retiring Canion from the game. Liz Paul came on and walked Ari Morrison for an RBI before a sac fly to right from Alysia Hamilton made it 4-0. With runners at first and third, Morrison stole second and Clare Hosack came up firing to second, where no one covered, allowing Gearhart to cross the plate for a 5-0 lead.
Baylor tried to mount a comeback in the bottom of the ninth, Paul and Hosack drew back-to-back one-out walks and were pinch run for by Sydney Wilson and Jordan Vannatta, respectively. Shelbi Redfearn hit a towering fly to the right-center wall, advancing both runners to scoring position with two outs. An infield single from Shelton brought Wilson in to score, but Kayce Walker grounded out to third to end the game.
The Lady Bears threatened in the first, as Shelton led off with a single and advanced to second on a sac bunt from Walker. A passed ball on a third strike put Shelton on third, but with Leal at first on a walk, Holly Holl struck out swinging to end the threat.
Leal flashed some leather to hold the game at 0-0 in the top of the fourth with a diving play up the middle on a line drive that kept Hamilton from scoring from second, ending the inning.
Walker led off the sixth with a base hit through the left side and advanced to second on a sac bunt from Turk. Leal and Holl walked to load the bases with one out, but a pop up to third from KJ Freeland and a fly out to right from Paul left the bases loaded.
Baylor nearly scored again in the fourth, as Paul singled to right with two outs bringing Leal from second towards home, but the throw was in time, keeping the game scoreless.
The Lady Bears will play their final non-conference game of the season, hosting Texas State on Tuesday at 6:00 p.m.
