Texas Tech softball dropped the series finale at No. 14 Baylor by the score of 4-0 Saturday at Getterman Stadium in Waco, Texas.
Despite a tough outing at the plate in which Tech managed only two hits, the Red Raiders kept it close throughout thanks to strong pitching and defensive performances. Tech trailed just 1-0 entering the bottom of the fifth before a two-out home run gave Baylor a 3-0 advantage.
“We had really good at bats today, our balls just didn’t fall,” head coach Adrian Gregory said. “I thought Kassidy (Scott) threw another good game. To offset hitters that have seen you eight or nine times in two days is incredible, and I thought she did a really good job of that.”
Freshman Kassidy Scott, who started all three games in the series, went 5.1 innings, giving up four runs while spreading around 10 hits. She registered a pair of strikeouts while accumulating no walks. Along with senior Mattison Maisel, Tech pitchers combined to walk zero batters on the day for the fourth time this season.
Baylor’s Kelsee Selman, the reigning Big 12 Pitcher of the Week, was impressive in the circle once again, striking out five and allowing just two Red Raider hits in a complete game effort. She held Tech to its fourth shutout of the season.
Tech earned its first base runners of the game in the third inning when senior Brittany Warnecke drew a leadoff walk. After pinch runner Camaury Washington was caught stealing, senior Sarah Weber walked before the next two batters retired.
Baylor took a 1-0 lead in the third as two Bears singled and then a Tech error at first base allowed a run to score. After a fielder’s choice loaded the bases, however, Tech shut down the Bears as Warnecke fielded a grounder and gunned down the runner at home, before senior Kierra Miles got Tech out of the inning with a diving grab in right field.
Trailing 1-0, the Red Raiders threatened again in the fifth. Warnecke reached with two outs on a fielding error by the third basemen and Weber followed with a single to the left side, but Tech was unable to bring them home as the following batter fouled out.
Baylor extended their lead in the bottom of the frame with a two-out, two-run homer to left field, making it 3-0. They tacked on another in the bottom of the sixth with an RBI double to right center for a 4-0 lead.
Tech refused to go quietly in the top of the seventh. Welborn led off by hitting a high fly drive to left field that was caught at the wall. Sophomore Jessica Hartwell followed with a base hit into left field to extend her hitting streak to four games. The next two batters, however, were retired with a fly out and line out as Baylor held on for the win.
With the loss, Texas Tech falls to 16-17 for the season, 3-3 in the Big 12. Baylor improves to 32-6 and 5-1 in Big 12 play.
COURTESY OF TEXAS TECH ATHLETICS