March 11, 2016 Box Score
HONOLULU, Hawaii -- No. 21/22 Baylor softball (16-5) picked up another gutsy win, downing the hosts, Hawaii Rainbow Wahine (12-12), 3-2, on Thursday night at Rainbow Wahine Stadium.
Kendall Potts (6-0) remains perfect on the year, picking up her sixth-straight win. Potts worked through 5.0 frames, allowing just three hits and one run, adding six strikeouts.
The BU offense got the ball rolling early, with Jessie Scroggins leading off with a bunt single. Shelby Friudenberg would drive Scroggins over to third with a single in the right-center gap, advancing to second on the throw.
Sarah Smith drove the ball into nearly the same spot as Friudenberg, scoring both runners with a stand-up double.
In the bottom of the first, the Rainbow Wahine answered back, leading off with a triple. A single up the middle would score the run, but Potts would settle in after that, allowing just one hit and no runs over the next four innings.
Making solid contact throughout the game, the BU offense broke through again in the fourth inning, with Linsey Hays leading off the frame.
Hays launched the first pitch she saw well over the fence in right-center, a towering solo shot to give Baylor the 3-1 lead on her team-best sixth home run of the season.
After a brief relief appearance by Kelsee Selman, allowing two walks and a run on an illegal pitch, Heather Stearns would enter in relief.
Stearns completely dominated the UH lineup, striking out the next six batters swinging to pick up her Big 12- and team-leading third save of the season.
STAT OF THE DAY #1
6 -- Heather Stearns' strikeout count in just two innings of work, retiring all six batters on swinging strikeouts
STAT OF THE DAY #2
11 -- Career save count for Stearns, moving into sole possession of No. 2 on Baylor's career list
WHAT'S NEXT
Baylor will log a doubleheader on Fri., March 11, starting with California, at 1:00 p.m. HT/5:00 p.m. CT. The Lady Bears will then set up for a rematch with North Dakota State to follow at 3:30 p.m. HT/7:30 p.m. CT.
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