Junior Jessica Hartwell blasted a school-record three home runs, but Baylor put up nine runs in the last two frames to scratch out a 12-8 win over Texas Tech softball on Friday in a windy series opener at Rocky Johnson Field.

Hartwell went deep in the first, third and seventh innings to finish 3-for-3 on the day with five of the team’s seven RBI. The Red Raiders (21-16, 1-6) as a whole tallied four dingers and put up its highest run total against the Lady Bears (22-9, 1-3) since 2007.

“We were so competitive, and we came out hungry early and often,” head coach Adrian Gregory said. “We had twelve hits, and if you have twelve hits, you usually win. We’ll keep going at it, I think our kids feel good about what they’re doing at the plate. They don’t feel good about losing, especially when they have a lead, but they believe and are bought in to what they’re doing and they’ll continue to play hard.”

Tech led 5-3 heading into the sixth, when Baylor put up five runs thanks in large to a three-run homer from Goose McGlaun that gave the Lady Bears their first lead of the game at 7-5. After Tech cut the lead to 8-7 entering the seventh, Baylor added four more runs off a Jessie Scroggins solo homer and a three-run knock from Taylor Ellis.

“We weren’t sharp enough on the mound, and I think if you leave pitches hanging, you have people that swing it and they swing it.” Gregory said. “We were better early at keeping the ball where we wanted to keep it and at having them hit it where we wanted them to hit it. We didn’t do that late and it hurt us.

McGlaun led Baylor with five RBI and a pair of home runs behind a 3-for-4 performance at the plate, while Shelby Friudenberg added a 3-for-4 day with two RBI and was just a triple shy of the cycle.

Freshman Kelcy Leach also went yard for Tech in a pinch-hit at bat to lead off the fourth. The Red Raiders also got strong contributions at the top of the lineup from redshirt freshmen outfielders Heaven Burton and Michaela Cochran, who combined to go 4-for-8 with two runs scored and an RBI.

Junior Regan Green (6-2) got the win in relief for Baylor, throwing 4.1 innings after starter Gia Rodoni was chased in the third after giving up four runs on five hits. For Tech, sophomore Kassidy Scott (6-5) came on for starter Erin Edmoundson and threw 3.1 innings in the loss.

Overall, Tech totaled its highest offensive output in Big 12 play this season with eight runs and 12 hits.

POST-GAME QUOTES

Jessica Hartwell

“I was just following the game plan our coaches gave us. I just go up there and take my swing and the ball just happens to jump off the bat and it’s good to see those results after weeks of hard work we’ve put in and all the scouting.“

“It’s more about the team and however I can come through to lead our team, whether its production in the box or helping our pitchers on the mound. It’s whatever our team needs and I just go up there and take hacks and if it goes over three times, it goes over three times.”

UP NEXT

Texas Tech will host its annual Pink Day on Saturday to “Strikeout Cancer” and raise awareness for breast cancer. The Red Raider and Lady Bears will square off at 4 p.m. with a live stream on TexasTech.TV.

For updates and info on all things Texas Tech softball, follow @TexasTechSB on Twitter and Instagram, and stay tuned to TexasTech.com. 

(Courtesy: Texas Tech Sports Communications Department)