Baylor falls to Texas Tech in extra innings Friday, 3-2

LUBBOCK, Texas – The No. 18 Bears led for much of the game, but were unable to hold on and fell 3-2 to No. 22 Texas Tech on Friday evening at Rip Griffin Park.

The Bears (26-11, 9-4) outhit the host Red Raiders (24-13, 7-7) 9-7, but stranded 11 runners on base and were unable to make their 2-1 lead hold up through the final two frames. 

Shea Langeliers led the way at the plate with three hits, while Andy Thomas had two.

Baylor starter Paul Dickens battled through 6.0 innings of work, allowing just two hits and scattered an uncharacteristic six walks to allow just one run. He also struck out six batters, including striking out the side in his final inning of work.

The Bears jumped on the board first with one run in the second as A. Thomas showed some heads up base running to come home on a wild pitch after doubling to start the inning and advancing to second on a Langeliers single. 

The Red Raiders answered with a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning to tie the ballgame up, 1-1.

The Bears answered right back, however, as Wendzel delivered an RBI ground out to give the Bears the lead right back at 2-1.

From there Dickens was able to keep the Red Raiders off the board for the next three frames, before giving way to Ryan Leckich. Leckich got the first two outs of the seventh, but with two on the Bears went back to the pen for Luke Boyd, who got Red Raider slugger Josh Jung swinging to end the inning.

Boyd was cruising in the bottom of the eighth as he got two quick outs before tweaking his groin on a pitch and came out of the game, giving way to Logan Freeman. Freeman was not his usual sharp self, and walked in the game-tying run to make it 2-2. 

In the top of the ninth the Bears had a great chance to answer back with a two-out rally, and Richard Cunningham and Davis Wendzel collected back-to-back singles to put the go-ahead run at second for Thomas. He gave one a ride, but it was caught in deep centerfield.

The Red Raiders plated the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth as Cody Masters delivered a single with the bases loaded.

Freeman took the loss to fall to 0-1 on the year and Red Raider reliever Taylor Floyd took the win to improve to 3-3.

NOTES

*Bears had their season-high four-game win streak snapped.

*The Bears are now 5-7 against Texas Tech under fourth-year head coach Steve Rodriguez.

*The Bears outhit their opponent for the 29th time this season and the fifth time they have done so in a loss.

*Davis Wendzel extended his on-base streak to 18 games and his hit streak to eight games.

*Richard Cunningham has a nine-game hitting streak.

*Andy Thomas has a nine-game hit streak.

*Josh Bissonette has a seven-game on-base streak.

*Shea Langeliers has a seven-game hit streak.

*Leckich made his team-leading 21st appearance of the year.

*Boyd made his 18th appearance of the year.

*Freeman made his third appearance of the year.

STAT OF THE DAY
11 – The Bears had their opportunities to give their pitching staff more run support, stranding 11 base runners on the day, but just could not get the big hit.  

QUOTE OF THE DAY
On today’s contest…

“This was a tough game but it’s something we need to flush and put behind us as we will go for the series win in the rubber game tomorrow.” 

- Baylor head coach Steve Rodriguez

WHAT'S NEXT

The rubber match of the series is set for 2 p.m. CT on Saturday, April 20 at Rip Griffin Park.