Baylor
Texas
Canion's Gem Leads No. 17 Softball To 2-1 Win
5/15/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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AUSTIN, Texas - Whitney Canion allowed just three hits while striking out 10 to lead No. 17 Baylor (40-12, 11-7) to a 2-1 win at No. 5 Texas (45-8, 14-4) on Sunday afternoon in Austin. The win over Texas was the first since April 22, 2009 and the first in Austin since April 8, 2009.
"This team is starting to click at the right time," head coach Glenn Moore said. "Whitney threw a great game against a great lineup and our offense made things happen against Blaire Luna, one of the best pitchers in the country."
With the victory, the Lady Bears recorded their 40th victory for the sixth time in program history and first since 2009.
Canion (24-9), who tied Cristin Vitek's all-time Baylor strikeout mark of 759, picked up her eighth 10-plus strikeout game of the season, allowing three hits, one run and four walks in the complete-game effort.
Kathy Shelton had two of the Lady Bears' six hits on the day, her team-leading 18th multi-hit game of the year.
Texas took the early lead after Brejae Washington drew a one-out walk and came around from first on a double to the left-center gap from Taylor Thom.
Baylor grabbed the lead in the fourth with a pair of runs. Holly Holl reached on a fielding error, a dropped line drive to right, followed by a single from Shelbi Redfearn to put runners at first and second with one out. Makenzie Robertson came in to pinch run, and scored after a grounder to short from Clare Hosack was thrown wide of the bag and got away from the first baseman, tying the game at one. KJ Freeland then drove in her ninth run of the season, reaching on a slow grounder to second that scored Redfearn for the 2-1 advantage.
Canion got out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the fourth, with a pair of walks and a single to load the bases with two outs, but the lefty got Savony swinging on a 3-2 pitch for one of her 10 strikeouts.
Canion retired nine of the next 10 batters with a two-out single in the seventh being the lone runner on after the fourth.
Baylor will now await its seeding for the NCAA Tournament, as the Selection Show will air on ESPNU at 9:00 p.m. CT. Fans are welcomed to come out to the watch party at the Stone Room in the Ferrell Center, with doors opening at 8:30 p.m.
