Feb. 11, 2000

ARLINGTON, Texas - Baylor's late-inning heroics turned a tight pitchers duel into a blowout as the Bears used the longball to beat UT-Arlington 7-2 in the first game of the UTA/Isuzu Motors Invitational.

The score was tied at 0-0 after five innings and was highlighted by both pitchers, Baylor's Sarah Caudle and UT-Arlington's Cassie Brand, getting out of big jams. Twice the Bears left a runner at third base and UTA had the bases loaded with two outs before their cleanup hitter flew out to left field to end the fifth.

Baylor started the scoring in the top of the sixth inning when leadoff hitter Naomi Fitzgerald singled up the middle and advanced on Sarah Sharp's groundout. Caudle then singled through the right side bringing home Fitzgerald. The next batter, Kelly Fleming, then crushed a home run deep over the centerfield wall to give BU a 3-0 lead.

UTA got back in the game in bottom half of the sixth when Elizabeth Harsma singled to left and Tami Freedman followed with a two-run homer to center.

The Bears got the runs back in the top of the seventh as Vanessa VandeBurgt led off with a single and Stacey Hundley followed with a bunt single. After a Fitzgerald sacrifice bunt, pinch hitter Holly Fields drove home VandeBurgt with a sacrifice fly. Caudle then came up and doubled home Hundley from second base. Fleming followed with her second home run in as many at bats to give the team a five-run cushion.

Caudle retired the Mavericks in order in the seventh to record her second win on the year. She now has 16 strikeouts in 11 2/3 innings pitched in two games and is 8-for-11 at the plate with her three hits in this game.

Brand dropped her second consecutive decision to the Bears and is 1-2 on the year.

Fleming became the first player in Baylor modern history to hit two home runs in a game, tying head coach Paula Young's mark.