Baylor Baseball Drops Series Opener to No. 9 Texas Tech, 7-1

WACO, Texas – Baylor baseball (21-21, 4-12) lost the series opener to No. 9 Texas Tech (30-15, 10-6) on Friday night at Baylor Ballpark, 7-1.

Jake Jackson started on the mound tonight in place of Tyler Thomas, who is out the remainder of the season with an injury that will require Tommy John surgery. Jackson had the misfortune of having to face a Red Raider lineup that consists of six batters hitting over .300.

Texas Tech got to work quickly by putting a run on the scoreboard in the first inning. The run came via a Ty Coleman RBI single. Jackson threw 31 pitches in the first inning and early on wasn’t as sharp as he typically is around the strike zone. 

Jack Mackenzie - SicEm365

Tech then blew things wide open in the third inning. RBI machine, Kurt Wilson, added his 54th RBI of the season with a double to extend the Tech lead to 2-0. The Bears still maintained some momentum because even with runners on second and third, Jackson had two outs. But things quickly changed when Tech’s Owen Washburn, hit a three-run shot over the left-field wall to give the Red Raiders the 5-0 lead. 

Despite the deficit, the Bears attempted to fight their way back into the game in the third inning. Jack Pineda launched a triple off the batter's eye in center-field to score Jacob Schoenvoel from first and put Baylor on the board, 5-1. But with Pineda on third and only one out, Tre Richardson and Jared McKenzie both struck out swinging to end the inning. 

Jackson ended the night going 6 IP and allowed 6 R, 6 ER, 7 H, 3 BB, and 7 Ks on 115 pitches. Outside of the three-run homer in the fourth that derailed the evening, it was a pretty solid overall performance on the mound. But most importantly, Jackson ate up a ton of innings to take the stress off the bullpen for the rest of the weekend. 

BU’s offense only tallied four hits on the night, with Casen Neumann accounting for two of those. Six of the nine Bears in the starting lineup recorded at least one strikeout. Jared McKenzie, Kyle Nevin, and Harrison Caley all had two strikeouts apiece. 

Texas Tech’s ace, Andrew Morris, pitched a masterful game and finished with 7 IP, R, ER, 4 H, and 7 Ks on 93 pitches. 

Final: Texas Tech 7 - Baylor 1

W: Andrew Morris (6-0) L: Jake Jackson (3-4) 

POTG: Casen Neumann 2-3, 2B

TOP QUOTES

Coach Rodriguez on tonight’s game

Jack Mackenzie - SicEm365

”We had the opportunity with less than two outs and a guy on third and we don’t score him. Then it could be 5-2 at that time. We need to take advantage of those opportunities especially on Friday nights in the Big 12. I told that to our offense that we need to execute in those opportunities. I think they did a really good job of that this past week and for a while now, but on Friday night games, we need to make sure we [execute]”

WHAT’S NEXT

Baylor baseball (21-21, 4-12) continues their series against No. 9 Texas Tech (30-14, 10-6) tomorrow at Baylor Ballpark. The first pitch is scheduled for 3:00 P.M.