Baseball opens series against #8 Texas Tech with 2-0 win

WACO, Texas – Baylor baseball won a 2-0 decision over No. 8 Texas Tech in the opener of the teams’ first Big 12 series on Friday night at Baylor Ballpark. The Bears (9-6, 1-0) took advantage of a great start by Cody Bradford in a pitcher’s duel vs. the Red Raiders (16-4, 0-1).

“I think once you saw [Cody Bradford] in the first inning, you realized he kind of went back to the guy we saw that very first outing, where he felt comfortable, he believed in his stuff, and he was just trusting Coach [Jon] Strauss in regards to pitch calling. He did a phenomenal job of just throwing what was called and being able to constantly pound the zone like that and keep the hitters off balance. He did a great job.” – Baylor Head Coach Steve Rodriguez

BU grabbed an early lead, and it was all Bradford needed. Shea Langeliers put himself in scoring position with a two-out double in the first inning. He then scored on a single by Davis Wendzel.

Bradford and TTU starter Davis Martin settled in, posting zero for zero. However, the Bears were able to get to Martin one more time in the seventh. Wendzel led off with a double, and after a sacrifice bunt by Andy Thomas, scored on a grounder to short by Nick Loftin.

In the ninth, the Red Raiders had two runners aboard with two outs, but Troy Montemayor relieved Bradford for a one-pitch save to nail down his fifth save of the season.

Bradford (3-1) earned the win in 8.2 shutout innings, giving up six hits and two walks with seven strikeouts. Martin (3-1) took the loss, allowing two runs on four hits with 10 strikeouts in seven innings.

The Bears finish their series against No. 8 Texas Tech with games at 2:05 p.m. CT Saturday and 1:05 p.m. Sunday at Baylor Ballpark.

NOTES

• Baylor is 6-8 under third-year head coach Steve Rodriguez and 94-155 all-time against Baseball America top 10 opponents. BU's last win against a top 10 team was April 22, 2017 at No. 7 TCU (16-5) and last series win was vs. No. 10 TCU (May 13-15, 2016).
• Baylor posted its fourth shutout of ranked opponent in two-plus seasons under Rodriguez. The last time BU shutout a ranked opponent was March 25, 2017 vs. No. 15 Oklahoma (7-0).
• Baylor has nine shutouts under Rodriguez (two in 2018, six in 2017, one in 2016).
• Baylor is 4-1 on its current seven-game home stand.
• Baylor has finished its home schedule with a .500 record or better (6-2 in 2018) in all 19 seasons at Baylor Ballpark (since 1999) and is 422-195 all-time at the park.
• Baylor is 14-22 against ranked opponents under Rodriguez (2-4, in 2018, 7-10 in 2017, 5-8 in 2016) and is 3-6 in three-game series against ranked foes. BU's last win over a ranked opponent was Feb. 24 at No. 11 UCLA (8-6) and last series win over a ranked opponent was vs. No. 23 Houston on March 10-12, 2017.
• Baylor is 12-17 under Rodriguez against Baseball America ranked opponents (2-4 in 2018, 7-9 in 2017, 3-4 in 2016) and is 2-5 in three-game series against ranked foes. BU's last win over a Baseball America ranked opponent was Feb. 24 at No. 11 UCLA (8-6) and last series win over a Baseball America ranked opponent was vs. No. 23 Houston on March 10-12, 2017.
• Baylor is 206-305-1 all-time against Baseball America ranked opponents and 174-258-1 in regular season play.
• Richard Cunningham had his 18-game hitting streak in Big 12 play snapped, which was tied for the second longest conference streak in Baylor history, one back of James Blair (1997) and David Murphy (2003).
• Cody Bradford threw a career-high 8.2 innings and has tossed at least five innings with one run or less and seven strikeouts in four of five starts this season.
• Troy Montemayor has six straight scoreless outings to open the season (5.1 innings) and earned his 31st career save (fifth of the season). He is now within seven of topping Baylor’s all-time career saves leader Zane Carlson (37, 2000-04). He converted his first eight career save attempts in 2016, and after blowing his ninth try, converted 12 straight before blowing his 22nd attempt. He has converted 22 of his last 23 save tries and 11 straight. He is 31-for-33 in career save chances.
• Davis Wendzel has reached base in four straight games and posted his team-high fifth multi-hit game of the season (2).