No. 22 Baylor Softball Blanks Illinois State 5-0 - kcentv.com - KCEN HD - Waco, Temple, and Killeen

WACO - Linsey Hays blasted a two-run home run in the first inning and No. 22 Baylor (1-0) never looked back, shutting out Illinois State (0-2) 5-0 to open the 2013 season at the Fairfield Inn & Suites Waco North Getterman Classic.

"I am pleased with how we played today," head coach Glenn Moore said. "Whitney (Canion) was good, but she is not quite sharp yet. I think we did a good job of handling opening game jitters and playing the game that was in front of us."

Baylor is now 11-2 in season openers under Moore and 11-0 when opening at home.

Canion (1-0) picked up the win after missing most of 2012 with a torn ACL. The redshirt junior went 5.0 innings, allowing three hits, two walks and striking out eight. Courtney Repka closed out the final two innings, giving up one hit and two walks.

Offensively, Hays notched her first career home run, while freshman Sarah Smith and sophomore Jordan Strickland each added a pair of hits to the Lady Bears' nine-hit attack.

Baylor opened up scoring in the first, as Kathy Shelton notched an infield single before Hays hit her first career home run over the left center wall for a 2-0 lead.

The Lady Bears added to their lead in the fourth when Kaitlyn Thumann hit a sharp grounder between the legs of the second baseman, scoring Smith from second, who singled.

Baylor went up 4-0 on Strickland's second career triple that one-hopped the left field wall to score Justine Young, who pinch ran for Canion after a single.

Thumann made the BU lead five after a single to left allowed Smith to cross the plate for the second time after her second single.

Baylor will face the Redbirds on Friday with first pitch set to begin at 4 p.m.