Baylor Wins Big in Series Finale against OU, 16-8

Norman, OKLA. – Baylor baseball (12-11, 2-4) somewhat salvaged the weekend by beating Oklahoma (14-8, 2-1) in the series finale on Sunday afternoon.

The Baylor offense was electric early. Tre Richardson got the first inning started with a walk. Kyle Nevin hit third on Sunday and continued his hot streak by doubling down the left-field line. Jared McKenzie launched a 2 RBI double to left-center, scoring Richardson and Nevin. McKenzie was able to advance to third and later advanced home on a wild pitch. The Bears led 3-0 after the top of the first. 

Jimmy Crooks hit a solo home run in the bottom of the second to put the Sooners on the board. Then Tanner Tredaway continued his great weekend with a double down the left-field line. Tredaway attempted to steal third and Caley airmailed a throw into left field that allowed Tredaway to come home and cut the lead to 3-2 Baylor. 

Baylor picked up a run in each of the third and fourth innings to add onto the lead 5-2.

Will Rigney started to struggle in the bottom of the fourth. With runners on second and third, Tanner Tredaway singled into left-center scoring two for Oklahoma, 5-4 BU.

Baylor Athletics

Tre Richardson hit his third home run of the year down the left-field line to extend the Bears lead to 6-4. Chase Wehsener was able to pick up a walk with two outs. Ian Groves singled to advance Wehsener to second and Harrison Caley was able to bring in Wehsener with a single through the right side, 7-4 Baylor. 

Will Rigney stayed out for the fifth inning and immediately walked the lead-off man, Peyton Graham followed with a two-run shot over the left-field wall, 7-6 BU. Rigney had his worst start of the season and exited with 4.1 IP, 7 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, and 5 K. Cam Caley entered to replace Rigney and walked the first batter he faced, then gave up a single that tied the game. Things were starting to get dicey, but Tre Richardson made two incredible plays to get Baylor out of the inning with no further damage done. 

Tre Richardson followed his defensive gems with a triple off the left-center field wall that was only a few feet short of a home run. Kyle Nevin grounded out to short to score Richardson allowing Baylor to regain the lead, 8-7. Jared McKenzie then had a triple of his own off of the center-field wall, but he remained stranded at third. 

Baylor exploded for a five-run top of the seventh. It all started when Oklahoma’s second-baseman Jackson Nicklaus, who was masterful with his glove all weekend, finally made a mistake, allowing a sharp ball hit by Alex Gonzales to get behind him, Harrison Caley scored from second to give Baylor the 9-7 lead. The bases were loaded for Tre Richardson who hit a deep sac-fly to right field to score another run for BU, 10-7. 

Oklahoma made another error when Kyle Nevin hit a routine grounder to shortstop that was fumbled, Alex Gonzales scored to bring the lead to 11-7. Chase Wehsener hit a chopper to the OU third-baseman that was also dropped, Jack Pineda scored, 12-7 BU. Casen Neumann lined a single into right to score Kyle Nevin, 13-7 BU. The Baylor offense totaled 14 hits on the day today, one of its better marks for the year. 

Oklahoma had three errors all by the infield in the seventh inning to help the Bears. To be frank, it was nice to have a couple of bounces go our way. It seems like that has not happened many times so far this season. 

Baylor Athletics

I noted in the preview how desperately this team needed extra-base hits, the offense answered the call these past two days. The Bears recorded four extra-base hits on Saturday and seven on Sunday. Kyle Nevin and Esteban Oquendo-Cardoza both had doubles. Jared McKenzie had an outstanding day as well, hitting a triple and two doubles. Tre Richardson stole the show however, he went 4-4 and tallied a home run and a triple on the afternoon, he was only a double shy of the cycle. 

This win was huge for the Bears moving forward.

Similar to last Sunday, the offense took the Saturday meltdown personally and was not going to let this team get swept. That kind of toughness and grit shows that this team is full of character. Hopefully, the Bears can take the momentum from today’s game into next week.

Final: Baylor 16 - Oklahoma 8

W: Cam Caley (1-0) L: Carson Atwood (2-3) S: Jake Jackson (1)

POTG: Tre Richardson 4-4, 5 R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, BB, SB

WHAT’S NEXT

Baylor baseball returns to Baylor Ballpark for a four-game homestand, starting with a midweek clash against UT Arlington. The game is slated for Tuesday night at 6:30 P.M.