The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Baylor
No. 4 Softball suffers first Big 12 loss at No. 8 Baylor
03.30.2005 | Softball
WACO, Texas -- The eighth-ranked Baylor softball team capitalized on a pair of third-inning Texas fielding errors to push two unearned runs across the board as the Lady Bears won their fourth-straight game against the Longhorns, taking a 2-0 Big 12 Conference decision at Getterman Stadium on Wednesday night.
Tessa Lynam gave Baylor all the runs it would need in the bottom of the third inning when her double to right center plated both Kim Wilmouth and Kelly Osburn after both players reached base on UT fielding errors.
Texas (26-5, 1-1 Big 12) played its first game since the team's bench collapsed during a rain delay on Saturday, March 26, injuring five Longhorns. UT was without four starters for the game: centerfielder Tina Boutelle (Katy, Texas), first baseman Alexis Garcia (Covina, Calif.), rightfielder Amber Hall (Deer Park, Texas) and shortstop Desiree Williams (Tucson, Ariz.), although Williams was available to pinch hit on Wednesday evening.
Baylor (32-4, 3-1 Big 12) won its third-straight conference game as Lyman and Chelsi Lake connected for the only Lady Bear hits on the night. It was also Baylor's first win over a top-five team since March 29, 2002 when the Bears took a 1-0 win over No. 4 Nebraska. With the loss, Texas' record against ranked teams fell to 5-4 this season. It was also UT's first loss in a true road game this season and the Horns fell to 5-1 in away contests.
Texas' Cat Osterman (Houston, Texas) tossed the complete game while falling to 13-3 on the season and snapping her 10-game winning streak. She allowed two runs (none earned) while scattering two hits and striking out 13 and walking two. Baylor's Lisa Ferguson (11-1) also threw the complete game shutout, giving up two hits while striking out five.
The Longhorns put together their first scoring chance of the night when Jaclyn Daniels (Sanger, Texas) and MicKayla Padilla (Cedar Park, Texas) strung together back-to-back hits to left field with two outs, but the next UT batter hit into a fielder's choice to get Daniels at third to end the inning.
UT had another scoring chance in the top of the fifth when Megan Willis (Chander, Ariz.) dropped a bunt with one out and Baylor pitcher Lisa Ferguson's throw to first sailed over Lynam's head at first and bounced into deep right field, allowing Willis to move to third. However, Ferguson struck out the next two UT batters to strand Lizi Sowers (Georgetown, Texas), who was pinch-running for Willis, on third.
Baylor did threaten early, as leadoff hitter Osburn drew a walk and then stole second to open the first inning. After two Osterman strikeouts, Chelsea Lake put a single in shallow left field, but UT left-fielder Rachael Cook (Anna, Texas) gunned the throw to Willis at home to get Osburn and preserve the scoreless frame.
The Longhorns return to action this weekend when they travel to Lincoln, Neb., for a Big 12 series against No. 22 Nebraska at Haymarket Park. The two teams will square off on Saturday at 2 p.m. in a game that will be televised live on CSTV, before meeting again on Sunday at noon.
