Late-Inning Offensive Surge Helps Push Baylor Past Ohio State, 8-6

ARLINGTON, Texas – Baylor baseball (8-2) got back in the win column with an 8-6 victory over Ohio State (1-7) in the second game of the Amegy College Baseball Series on Saturday afternoon at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

The Bears broke the game open with a four-run eighth inning, highlighted by a go-ahead, two-run double from third baseman Hunter Teplanszky (Sr.). Baylor also benefitted from a pair of home runs earlier in the contest from designated hitter Hunter Simmons (RSr.) and first baseman Jack Little (RSo.).

“One of the things that I think you’re seeing from our club is that we respond and punch back,” head coach Mitch Thompson said after the win. “Virtually every time they put some runs on the board, we came back in the bottom half of our inning and responded. Those are always big things and the qualities and traits of a really good club.”

Left-handed pitcher Bryson Bales (6Sr.) tossed five quality innings but got the no-decision, while veteran righty Gabe Craig (RSr.) earned his first save of the season.

“It feels awesome,” Bales said of the win. I’m glad to get a win here; it’s huge for us. I’m glad our hitters showed up today and really helped out our pitching.”

The Bears got on the board in the fourth inning when Simmons battered a two-run home run into the bullpen in right-center field — his first long ball of the spring.

Despite allowing the leadoff batter to reach in four of the first five innings of the contest, Bales was able to work through most of the jams and mitigate damage. In the fifth, however, the Buckeyes finally got to Bales when center fielder Reggie Bussey (Jr.) doubled to right field to open the frame and later scored following an error from shortstop Tyriq Kemp (Sr.).

“It definitely makes you work a lot harder,” Bales said of allowing the leadoff batter to reach. “You have to lock in from the get-go. There’s no deep breath you can take; it’s straight to the point, and you gotta get after it to prevent them from scoring.”

After five innings, Bales's afternoon was finished; he surrendered three hits and one earned run while striking out three on 81 pitches. His ERA sits at 3.46 on the season.

In the bottom of the fifth, Baylor extended its lead with another two-run homer, this time from Little — his first in a BU uniform. Little has plated three of Baylor’s 11 runs so far this weekend.

The Buckeyes added another run in the sixth inning following Kemp’s second error of the afternoon at shortstop. Right-handed pitcher Lucas Davenport (RSo.) had two stellar frames before allowing a game-tying two-run homer to second baseman Tyler Pettorini (Sr.) in the eighth inning.

Third baseman Pearson Riebock (Fr.) and center fielder Ty Johnson (Sr.) earned back-to-back walks to put the Bears in business in the eighth inning. Johnson finished the contest 2-for-3 at the plate.

Following Teplanszky’s go-ahead double into the right-field corner, catcher JJ Kennett (So.) and Kemp collected RBI singles to extend Baylor’s lead to 8-4. Four of Baylor’s nine hits came in the eighth inning.

“That felt phenomenal,” Teplanszky said of his two-run double. “I’ve been struggling a little bit to start the year, but I’ve been taking good swings. To get one and finally see it down was really awesome. … I’m real proud of the guys for tacking on some at the end. It’s fun to do that in late-game situations.”

The Buckeyes made things interesting late with two runs off southpaw Stefan Stahl (Jr.) in the ninth inning before Craig closed the door.

Final: Baylor 8, Ohio State 6

W: Stefan Stahl (1-0) L: Hunter Shaw (1-2) S: Gabe Craig (1)

POTG: Jack Little (2-for-5, HR, R, 2 RBI)

WHAT’S NEXT

The Bears (8-2) will close out the Amegy College Baseball Series at 3 p.m. on Sunday against No. 25 Auburn (9-1). The game will be streamed on Flo College.