No. 2 Alabama Awaits Softball at WCWS
6/3/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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| No. 11 Baylor (46-13) vs. No. 2 Alabama (52-9) Friday, June 3, 2011 | 6 p.m. CDT Oklahoma City, Okla.| ASA Hall of Fame Stadium (7,300) TV: ESPN & ESPN-HD | Radio: ESPN Central Texas  Tournament Central |  Tickets |  In-Game Blog Watch |  Listen |  |
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Date: Friday, June 3, 2011
Location: Oklahoma City, Okla.
Stadium: ASA Hall of Fame Stadium (7,300)
Television: ESPN & ESPN-HD
Talent: Pam Ward (pxp), Michelle Smith (color), Jessica Mendoza (analyst), Holly Rowe (field reporter)
Radio: ESPN Central Texas (1660 AM, 106.5 FM, 100.9 FM, 101.3 FM)
Talent: Derek Smith (pxp), Alex Colyer (color)
Video Web Stream: www.ESPN3.com (free)
Audio Web Stream: www.BaylorBears.com (free)
Gametracker: (free)
In-Game Blog: www.BaylorBears.com (free)
SCOUTING ALABAMA
Alabama has won six of its last seven and 10 of its last 12 games entering today's contest. The Crimson Tide are the fourth highest scoring team in the country at 7.1 runs per game, hitting .315 to go with 89 home runs and 156 stolen bases. Kayla Braud is hitting .444 with 58 stolen bases, while Kelsi Dunn is 28-4 with a 1.12 ERA and 320 strikeouts in 218.1 innings of work.
SERIES VS. ALABAMA
Alabama leads the all-time series, 3-0, with the two teams last meeting on Mar 8, 2009 at the Easton SEC Pac-10/Big 12 Challenge with the Tide winning 10-1 in Tuscaloosa.
QUICK HITS
• Dani Leal has reached safely in 23 of her last 24 games.
• Since coming in for Clare Hosack at the catcher spot on March 28, Kelsi Kettler is hitting .500 (5-for-10) with one home run, three runs and three RBI.
• Baylor, which is making its second trip to the WCWS (2007, 2011), owns a 22-13 mark all-time at the NCAA €ˆSoftball Championship with a four regional titles (2005, 2007, 2009, 2011) and two super regional championships (2007, 2011). Baylor is now 2-2 in the WCWS after winning its first ever first-round game.
• The Lady Bears are now 36-3 when scoring first.
• Baylor is 41-1 when allowing less than two runs.
• BU (44 home runs) is now 24-4 when hitting a home run.
• With her first strikeout against Oklahoma State on Thursday, Whitney Canion became the first Baylor pitcher in history to record 800 strikeouts. She now sits at 809.
WALK-OFF WONDERS
Thurday's win over Oklahoma State marked the fifth walk-off win of the season for the Lady Bears. All five have come against conference opponents.
March 26 - Texas A&M - Megan Turk home run
April 2 - Missouri - Megan Turk sac fly
May 7 - Nebraska - Dani Leal two-run single
May 8 - Nebraska - Shelbi Redfearn sac fly
June 2 - Oklahoma State - Kelsi Kettler home run
CANION'S 10-PLUS STRIKEOUTS
Whitney Canion struck out 10 Cowgirls on Thursday, making it the 10th time this season she had 10 or more strikeouts. She now has 25 in her career.
SHUT 'EM OUT
Canion has eight complete-game shutouts on the season. Four of them have come in postseason play, as she has blanked Lehigh, East Carolina twice and Oklahoma State.
