Posey Pushes Baylor Baseball Past UTA in Midweek Matchup, 5-3
WACO, TX – Baylor baseball (20-23) ended its three-game losing streak with a 5-3 win over UT Arlington (18-27) Tuesday night at Baylor Ballpark.
First baseman Cole Posey (Sr.) carried the Bears' offense in the victory, going 4-for-4 at the plate with a home run, a triple and a single; he was a double shy of his first career cycle. Posey collected four of Baylor’s 11 base knocks. In his last two games, the Georgetown native is 7-for-7 with three home runs and four RBIs.
In his first start at designated hitter, RJ Ruais (Fr.) had a multi-hit performance and picked up his first career hit in the sixth inning.
Despite issuing nine free passes, Baylor’s pitching staff combined to surrender just six hits and held UTA to only three runs on the ballgame.
“Cole [Posey] swung the bat well – he continues to swing the bat well,” head coach Mitch Thompson said after the win. “He had a great game, obviously. The home run was big. The two-out rally was big. 4-for-4 at the plate, that’s about as nice as it can get.”
The Bears got a quick 2-0 lead in the first when second baseman Daniel Altman (Sr.) and third baseman Hunter Teplanszky (Jr.) delivered back-to-back two-out RBI base knocks. Teplanszky also collected a multi-hit performance in the victory, going 3-for-4 at the plate.
Right-handed pitcher Jared Matheson (Sr.) opened the contest on the mound for the Bears and had an up-and-down outing. While he only allowed one earned run across three frames and fanned four, he hit four batters, walked two and threw more balls (25) than strikes (24). The lone Mavericks run off Matheson scored on a wild pitch in the third.
“Jared Matheson comes out and gets us three innings and gives up only one run, but it’s holding your breath at different times,” Thompson said. “A couple of walks, four hit batters, and you’re like, ‘goodness gracious.’ But then he’ll throw one pitch that looks like a million bucks.”
In the bottom of the third, Posey launched a solo shot, his fifth long ball of the season, over the right-center field wall. Since being inserted into the starting lineup on April 5, Posey is 23-for-52 at the plate with nine extra-base hits and 15 RBIs.
“Baseball is one of those games where you have to have a little bit of luck,” Posey said. “I’m feeling good up there right now. I feel really calm. I told one of the guys that I might have only like 40, 50 at-bats left, and then I’m done. Obviously, I want to do good, but I have to be calm and relaxed up there and give it my best shot.”
Right-handed pitcher Tanner Duke (RFr.) entered in relief of Matheson and allowed one run across 2.2 innings of work. Left-handed pitcher Kobe Andrade (Sr.) also surrendered a run in his lone frame on the mound. Two of UTA’s three runs reached base via a free pass.
Teplanszky and Ruais opened the sixth with back-to-back base knocks. Ruais’ bloop single into left-center was his first career hit. With runners on the corners and out, shortstop Tyriq Kemp (Jr.) extended the Bears lead, 4-2, with an RBI ground out.
“I’ve been waiting for this hit all year,” Ruais said postgame. “It’s super exciting to get out here, and Coach Thompson was able to give me the opportunity – it’s awesome.”
Ruais also made an appearance on the mound Tuesday, getting the final out in the eighth with the tying run at the plate. Veteran righty Patrick Hail (RJr.) closed out the ninth with his first save in a Baylor uniform.
Final: Baylor 5, UT Arlington 3
W: Tanner Duke (2-1) L: Aaron Calhoun (0-5) S: Patrick Hail (1)
POTG: Cole Posey (4-for-4, HR, 3B, RBI, 2 R)
WHAT’S NEXT
Baylor baseball (20-23, 9-12) will face TCU (26-19, 10-14) in a critical series this weekend at Baylor Ballpark. The first pitch on Friday is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.