AMES, Iowa – No. 19 Baylor softball (31-7, 5-0 Big 12) finished off a dominating series sweep of the Iowa State Cyclones (15-17, 0-3 Big 12), pounding out a 17-0 (5) win over ISU on Sunday afternoon at Cyclone Sports Complex.
Heather Stearns (15-2) allowed only one hit, striking out five in 3.0 shutout innings.
Kelsee Selman closed out the final 2.0 frames, working through two perfect innings, while striking out two.
With ISU scoring its runs in the first two games of the series largely in single-inning bursts, Baylor completely squelched any chance at a run, allowing just one hit in the combined shutout.
For Baylor, another fast start set the tone early.
In the top of the first, a two-out single by Shelby Friudenberg set up for a two-run home run to left-center by Linsey Hays, her 10th of the season.
Back in the top of the second, another two-out rally started with Robin Landrith singling up the middle, followed by a single by Lindsey Cargill to center.
Jessie Scroggins singled into right field, scoring Landrith on a throw to the plate. Scroggins rounded first, forcing the ISU defense into a rundown, allowing Cargill to score on another throw to the plate, pushing the Baylor lead to 4-0.
In the top of the fourth, BU took complete control of the game.
Landrith got the run going with a walk, advancing to second on a single by Cargill.
With Scroggins reaching on an error by ISU’s shortstop, the bases were loaded, bringing up Kyla Walker.
Walker added to a stellar weekend performance, driving a double into right-center, clearing the bases for three RBI.
With Walker advancing to third on a wild pitch, Friudenberg drew a walk, bringing up Hays, who singled through the left side to easily score Walker.
Sarah Smith drew a walk to load the bases again, with Friudenberg advancing on a wild pitch on the next batter.
Sarah Beth Toben got a pinch-hit opportunity, driving a run into the corner in left field to score both Smith and Hays, capping of a seven-run frame to take an 11-0 lead.
In the top of the fifth, Jessica Tomchesson reached on an error, advancing to second after a walk by Riley Browder, and to third on a ground ball double play.
Gia Rodoni, a freshman pitcher for the Lady Bears, got her first collegiate at-bat, taking full advantage of the opportunity, driving in Tomchesson for an RBI single.
Back-to-back singles by Smith and Morgan Groppe would score Rodoni, with Charlton following up with an RBI double through the left side of the infield.
With two on, Sydney Christensen launched a three-run shot well over the left field wall, icing a 17-0 victory for the Lady Bears.
STAT OF THE GAME #1
50 – the number of runs scored by Baylor in the weekend series with ISU, the most runs scored in a three-game series by the Lady Bears in program history.
STAT OF THE GAME #2
19 – the number of Lady Bears making an appearance in the Sunday series finale, marking the first time this season that all 19 active players have appeared in the same game
STAT OF THE GAME #3
.447 – batting average for the Lady Bears in the three-game series, posting 50 runs on 42 hits, with eight home runs, seven doubles, and a .798 slugging mark.
WHAT’S NEXT
The Lady Bears return back to Waco for a one-game set with Lamar on Tuesday, April 5, at Getterman Stadium, leading up to the highly anticipated three-game weekend series with Oklahoma.
