Bats Go Silent as Baylor Gets Demolished by Utah, 13-1, in Series Opener

WACO, Texas – Baylor baseball (23-14, 6-10) was dominated in its series opener and fell 13-1 to Utah (16-17, 5-11) on Thursday evening at Baylor Ballpark, which drops the Bears to 1-5 in series openers during conference play.

Baylor was out-hit 16-to-7 by the Utes and went 0-for-6 with runners on and 2-for-16 with runners in scoring position in the loss. Right fielder Enzo Apodaca (RSr.) and second baseman Travis Sanders (RSo.) combined for four of the Bears’ seven hits.

The Utes totaled four infield singles and eight extra-base hits off Baylor’s pitching staff, including a season-high three home runs in the contest. Shortstop Core Jackson (Sr.), a projected top-round MLB draft pick, finished the contest 4-for-5 at the plate with five RBIs.

“That one got away from us. We didn’t handle the bunt defense. We didn’t get outs when we had the opportunity to get outs,” head coach Mitch Thompson said post-game. “They bunted the ball well, and we didn’t handle it. We gave them extra runners, and the game got away from us. It’s disappointing that we didn’t seem to be able to respond offensively either. It’s not one guy screwing this up; they came out and got right after us. I have to do a better job.”

After retiring eight consecutive batters, left-handed pitcher Ethan Calder (Jr.) ran into trouble in the third inning following a two-out single from third baseman Austin Roellig (Fr.). 

Calder then surrendered back-to-back RBI doubles to Jackson and designated hitter Tyler Quinn (Sr.) to give Utah an early 2-0 lead.

The Bears got on the board in the bottom of the frame after Apodaca and Wesley Jordan (Sr.) led off the inning with back-to-back singles. Apodaca later scored on a wild pitch, but Jordan was left stranded. Baylor left seven runners on base in the loss.

Utah’s starting pitcher, righty Colter McAnelly (So.), dominated the Bears’ batting order the rest of the way, tossing seven quality innings and striking out seven on 103 pitches.

The Utes chased Calder out of the contest in the fifth inning after allowing a five-spot, highlighted by a bases-clearing double to Quinn.

Calder threw 73 pitches and allowed nine base hits, five extra-base hits and seven earned runs despite striking out five across 4.1 frames.

In the sixth inning, the Utes padded their lead even further with a two-run single from Jackson off righty reliever Lucas Davenport (RSo.) to go ahead, 9-1.

“We’ve got to be better so it doesn’t happen like that,” Thompson said. “We haven’t had a bunch of [blowout losses], but we’ve had enough where I don’t want to see them anymore, and I know the guys don’t too.”

With veteran right-handed pitcher Patrick Hail (6Sr.) on the mound, Utah added a solo home run in the seventh inning from catcher Derek Smith (Jr.), as well as a two-run Jackson homer and another Quinn solo shot in the eighth.

Final: Utah 13, Baylor 1

W: Colter McAnelly (3-3) L: Ethan Calder (3-4)

WHAT’S NEXT

The Bears (23-14, 6-10) will continue their series against Utah (16-17, 5-11) on Friday, April 17, at 6:30 p.m. at Baylor Ballpark. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.