Baylor Baseball Blows Late Lead to UTSA in Midweek Matchup, Loses 9-7

WACO, Texas – Baylor baseball (8-16) dropped a close midweek matchup to UTSA (13-12), 9-7, Tuesday night at Baylor Ballpark.

Despite leading for much of the game and being ahead 7-6 heading into the seventh inning, the Bears blew the late lead after veteran reliever Grant Golomb (Sr.) allowed a three-spot in the frame. The Roadrunners scored in six of the first seven innings and outhit Baylor 15-9 in the contest. The Bears are now 7-1 on the season when leading after the sixth.

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Baylor has dropped to 7-1 on the year when leading after six innings. The Bears are also 0-8 in games where they have at least two errors.

After putting up five runs in the bottom of the second, Baylor’s batting order was shut down in the back half of the game, picking up just two base knocks across the final five innings.

“That [loss] was disappointing,” head coach Mitch Thompson said after the defeat. “We didn’t pitch well enough, and we didn’t score enough. We only put up three zeros on the night. They hit every mistake we threw up there. We had a lead, but we couldn't quite hold on to it – that’s frustrating.”

In his fourth midweek start, right-handed pitcher Tanner Duke (RFr.) struggled mightily against the Roadrunners on Tuesday. In just two innings pitched, Duke surrendered six hits and three earned runs. In each of his last three starts, Duke has allowed at least three earned runs.

The Bears bounced back and regained the lead in the bottom of the second with a five-spot. Catcher Cortlan Castle (Jr.), center fielder Ty Johnson (Jr.) and designated hitter Wesley Jordan (Jr.) all delivered two-out RBI singles in the frame.

After a slow start to the season, Jordan is now second on the squad in batting average (.314) and has reached base in 16 consecutive games – a team-high.

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OF Caleb Bergman (So.) returned to the lineup on Tuesday after missing three weeks with a hamstring injury.

Veteran reliever Andrew Petrowski (RJr.) entered the ballgame on the mound for Duke and surrendered two runs – just one earned – across two innings pitched.

Some spotty defense from shortstop Tyriq Kemp (Jr.) tied the game at five apiece in the fourth. The Bears are now 0-8 on the season when having at least two errors in a contest.

Baylor took back the lead, 7-5, in the bottom of the fourth with an RBI double from Jordan and a sacrifice fly from left fielder Caleb Bergman (So.). Bergman made his return to the lineup against UTSA after missing the last three weeks with a hamstring injury and went 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI.

The Roadrunners plated another run in the fifth, this time off Stephen Sepulveda (Fr.). The freshman righty went on to throw a scoreless sixth and exited the contest after two innings.

Despite tossing three frames each in Sunday’s loss to Texas, relievers Kobe Andrade (Sr.) and Drew Leach (RJr.) closed out the game with 2.1 combined shut-out innings.

Final: UTSA 9, Baylor 7

W: Braylon Owens (2-1) L: Grant Golomb (0-1) S: Ruger Riojas (4)

POTG: Wesley Jordan (2-for-5, R, 3 RBI, 2B)

WHAT’S NEXT

Baylor baseball (8-16, 3-6) will gear up for a conference series against the Big 12 newcomer Cincinnati Bearcats (15-11, 3-3) this weekend. With Easter on Sunday, the series is moved up a day, and the first pitch on Thursday is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.