April 26, 2012
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No. 25/RV Baylor (28-17, 5-11) at No. Oklahoma State (23-19, 6-9) April 27-29 | Stillwater, Okla. | Cowgirl Softball Complex (475) |
FRIDAY | 7 PM Listen |  | SATURDAY | 3 PM Listen  |  | SUNDAY | NOON RADIO: ESPN Central Texas Listen |
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SCOUTING OKLAHOMA STATE
The Cowgirls have dropped three of their last four after Texas took a 2-1 series victory last weekend in Austin. OSU is hitting .233 as a team, led by Tamara Brown's .328 average. In the circle, Kat Espinosa leads with a 2.57 ERA and 13-9 mark, while striking out 125 in 152.2 innings.
LAST TIME
The two teams will be facing each other for the first time since Kelsi Kettler's eighth inning walk-off home run gave the Lady Bears a 1-0 win in the opening round of the 2011 Women's College World Series.
FRESHMEN STEPPING UP IN CONFERNCE PLAY
Baylor has relied heavily on its freshmen to knock in runs during Big 12 play. Sarah Crockett (7), Jordan Strickland (5) and Kaitlynn Thumann have accounted for 15 of the team's 31 RBI in conference. The trio have accounted for 48 percent of the RBI's despite making just 17.5% of the team's at bats.
HITTING HEATING UP LAST 9 GAMES
Baylor's offense has been heating up over the last eight games, as the Lady Bears have hit .286 since April 6. Six BU players are hitting over .300 (Kaitlyn Thumann - .583, Kayce Walker - .500, Holly Holl - .429, Sarah Crockett - .357, Kelsi Kettler - .353, Jordan Strickland - .333).
WALKER BACK ON TRACK
Kayce Walker has reached safely in her last 11 games and registered a hit in eight of her last nine with four of those being two hits or more.
START FAST
Baylor is 22-3 in games it scores first, and 6-13 when the opponent does. When the Lady Bears hold a lead after four innings, they are 17-0 and 23-0 after a sixth-inning lead.
SPEED DEMONS
The Lady Bears have two of the top seven base stealers in program history on the 2012 squad. Senior Kayce Walker enters the weekend No. 5 all-time with 79, while Shelton is No. 7 with 72.
As a team, BU is second in the Big 12 with 72 stolen bases behind Texas' 79.
AGAINST RANKED
Baylor is 5-11 against ranked foes this season. The Lady Bears knocked off then No. 18 Oregon (2-1) and No. 24 North Carolina (2-0) in the same day (3/2) before a 1-0 win over then No. 7 Oklahoma (3/25). The Lady Bears are coming off two last week, a 5-4 extra-inning win over No. 5 Texas (4/18) and an 8-4 victory at No. 24 Texas Tech (4/22).
HOMERS AWAY FROM HOME
Baylor plays in one of the toughest home run parks in the country, and this proves it. In Big 12 games since 2007 the Lady Bears have hit 46 of their 63 home runs (73 percent) away from Getterman Stadium.