April 6, 2005

ARLINGTON, Texas - The University of Texas at Arlington softball squad managed to match No. 8 Baylor run-for-run in three innings but it was a seven run third frame that the Lady Mavericks couldn't handle as the Lady Bears knocked off UTA, 10-5, Wednesday evening at Allan Saxe Field.

Tessa Lynam rocked a 2-2 pitch into right center field for a RBI double to give the Lady Bears a one-run lead after just one half inning of play.

UTA (12-20) evened the score in the home half of the first as April Clougherty worked a lead off walk and advanced to second on a Dee Jay Nelson single. Katie Jones singled just past the bag at third to plate Clougherty and knot the score.

Baylor (34-5) opened the third frame with back-to-back doubles from Melissa Huffines and Kylie Conroy to break a 1-1 tie and take a 2-1 advantage. Kelly Osburn singled and stole second before Harmony Schwethlem singled to send home Conroy. Chelsi Lake drove in two with a triple off the wall in center field to give the Lady Bears a 5-1 lead. Kim Wilmoth connected for a run-producing double before two Lady Maverick errors plated the final two runs of the frame as Baylor cruised to an 8-1 advantage.

Lacey Leadbetter opened the UTA third but was eliminated as Nelson reached on a fielder's choice. Jones dropped a ball just inside the left field line to plate Nelson as the Lady Mavs cut the deficit to just six runs.

Baylor added one run in the fourth after a Jordan Daniels sac fly.

UTA answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the frame after a fielder's choice and two singles plated Courtnie Anderson. The Lady Maverick's rally was cut short as Baylor turned the double play to escape the inning.

Stephanie Pomes knocked a 3-2 pitch over the scoreboard in center field for her eighth long ball of the year with two outs in the top of the fifth, giving BU a 10-3 lead.

Autumn Petrino reached on a fielding error by the Lady Bear's second baseman and scored on an Amanda Swofford two-out double to the left field corner.

It was Petrino crossing the plate again in the seventh after connecting for a one-out double to left center and advancing to third on a Jones ground out. Petrino came home on a Swofford single back through the box.

Sophomore Lauren Hebert (3-8) was tagged with the loss after allowing eight runs (seven earned) on nine hits in just 2.1 innings of work. Pushing her record to 4-0 was Baylor starter Nicole Jackson after tossing a complete game effort and being touched for 11 hits.

Jones paced the Lady Mavs with two hits and two runs batted in while Anderson added two hits and a run to the offensive efforts. Schwethelm led the Lady Bears with three hits, two runs and one RBI.

UTA will return to Southland Conference play this weekend with a three-game set at league-leader Texas State. First pitch in Friday's single game is set for 7 p.m. while Saturday's doubleheader is slated for 1 p.m.

-utamavs.com-