STILLWATER, Okla. – No. 19 Baylor softball (35-12, 7-4 Big 12) made a dominant showing in the series rubber match with Oklahoma State (22-19, 4-6 Big 12), taking a 9-0, one-hit win on Saturday afternoon at Cowgirl Softball Stadium.
Heather Stearns (16-6) started for the third straight game, saving her best performance for last.
In 6.0 shutout innings, Stearns picked up nine strikeouts, allowing just one hit.
Kendall Potts finished the final frame in relief, extending her scoreless inning streak to 13.0.
With both teams shutout through the first three frames, Baylor’s offense broke through in the fourth, with Linsey Hays leading off with a walk.
An infield error by OSU put Shelby Friudenberg on base and moved Hays to second.
Ari Hawkins stroked a double into left field, scoring Hays and putting Friudenberg on third.
A sac fly by Robin Landrith plated Friudenberg, putting the Lady Bears up, 2-0.
Not slowing in the fifth, Sarah Smith started a two-out rally with a single up the middle.
A walk by Hays put two on for Friudenberg, pulling through with a three-run bomb to left field, breaking the game open for a 5-0 lead.
Keeping the rally going with two outs, Hawkins reached safely on an error by OSU, advancing to second on the play. A single by Lindsey Cargill would score Hawkins from second, ending the four-run frame with a 6-0 Baylor lead.
Rolling into the seventh frame, the Lady Bears kept the foot on the pedal, with Smith leading off with a walk and advancing on a wild pitch.
A single by Friudenberg would score Smith, keeping a runner on for Hawkins.
A two-run shot to left-center would put Baylor up 9-0, with Potts pitching a scoreless final frame to finish off the series win.
