Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
Baylor
No. 11 Baylor Out-Distances Texas Tech, 14-9
April 06, 2007 | Softball
April 6, 2007
LUBBOCK, Texas - On a bone-chillingly cold afternoon in Lubbock, No. 11 Baylor (36-9) and Texas Tech (17-20) played a three hour and fifteen minute softball game, which featured five home runs, three doubles, and a line score which looked a good deal more like a football one than a softball score: Baylor 14; Texas Tech 9.
The Red Raiders jumped out to a 7-1 lead at the end of the first, in large part bacause of senior third baseman Natalie Kula's grand slam, (the first of her career), but the Bears began to chip away at the lead, posting runs in each of the final five innings, while the Red Raiders cooled. Neither starter was effective as Lisa Ferguson gave up an uncharacteristic nine runs (eight earned) and Ashly Jacobs gave up eight runs (seven earned). Kirsten Shortridge (12-3) came on to settle the Red Raider bats and pick up the win, while Sarah Losleben wound up with the loss, giving up six runs (five earned) through 3 innings of work.
The teams combined for 24 hits on the day, but the story wasn't either offense. A 4 p.m. game time was decided early in the morning in an effort to out-run poor weather in the South Plains. A 40 degree game-time temperature, quickly dropped to the low 30s, with the winds picking up midway through the first inning. The game featured a few wind-aided hits, and the conditions contributed to more than a few sloppy plays (four errors, three hit batters, four passed balls, two wild pitches, to name a few). The rain held off until late in the fifth inning, when a slight, constant mist began. Only the player's bats remained hot.
The teams had hoped to play a double header and avoid the nastier weather which is yet to come, but in the interest of good judgment and the players' safety, the decision was made to check back in the morning to see if the final game can be played tomorrow at 1 p.m. (This Web site will contain details if that game can be played.)
Brette Reagan hit a pair of home runs, had five RBIs and added a few base hits to lead the offense for the Bears. Devin Zaragoza and Jennifer Corkin each had multiple hit games for the Red Raiders, but Kula's shot in the first was clearly the offensive highlight for Tech.
The complete game recap is available via the play-by-play of each inning under the box score.
Baylor now leads the Big 12 conference with a 6-0 record, while Texas Tech falls to 0-6.
