Baylor Baseball Wins Fourth Straight, Beats Sam Houston 9-5

WACO, Texas – Baylor baseball (20-17, 4-8) took care of business with a win against Sam Houston State (19-17) on Tuesday night at Baylor Ballpark. 

For the second straight game, the offense was outhit. But another solid performance from the bullpen and great situational hitting allowed the Bears to come through with the victory. 

Anderson Needham started Tuesday night’s game on the mound and threw two scoreless innings. Needham had runners on the corners with one out in the second but got huge back-to-back strikeouts to get out of the inning. 

Jack Mackenzie - SicEm365

Mason Marriott entered to pitch in the third inning and an adventure ensued. The Bearkats had three hits in the inning and were able to get a run across. But thanks to a poor baserunning decision by Justin Wishkoski, one run was all they would get. It was 1-0 SHSU through the third inning. 

Tre Richardson returned the favor with a two-out RBI single to score Esteban Cardoza-Oquendo to tie the game at one apiece. Richardson’s been working on his clutch gene lately, with that hit being his second two-out RBI single in the past three games. 

Things got tenser when Cole Stasio gave up two solo home runs in the top of the fourth and Sam Houston State extended its lead to 3-1. Stasio left the game recording only one out and leaving runners on the corners for Jake Jackson to deal with. Jackson hit the first batter he faced, then gave up a single with the bases loaded. A 1-2-3 double play got Jackson out of the inning, but the Kats led 4-1.

Through three and a half innings, Sam Houston had 10 hits. Baylor only had two. 

Cam Caley answered the call though with a huge 2 RBI double down near the left-field wall to score both Casen Neumann and Chase Wehsener. With the Bears’ response, it was 4-3 SHSU through four. 

Jackson settled down and pitched a scoreless fifth and sixth to keep the game within striking distance for the offense. 

Then, Kyle Nevin continued his fantastic week at the plate with a lead-off triple in the bottom of the sixth. Wehsener hit an RBI single up the middle to score Nevin from third and tie the game. Wehsener advanced to second on a wild pitch and Cardoza-Oquendo brought him home with a bloop single into left field. The Bears took the lead 5-4. 

Jack Mackenzie - SicEm365

Following the Cardoza-Oquendo bloop single, Harrison Caley lined a ball through the left side to extend the inning. Jack Pineda came to the plate with runners on first and second and two outs. Pineda launched a 2 RBI double to the right-center field wall to give the Bears the 7-4 lead. 

Ian Groves added a no-doubter solo home run in the bottom of the seventh to extend the Baylor lead to 8-4.

Both teams added a run in the eighth, but ultimately Pineda’s 2 RBI double was all BU needed to secure the win. Matt Voelker came in and slammed the door shut in the last three innings. 

It was great to avenge the tough loss suffered earlier in the year in Huntsville. But most importantly the Bears came back and won a game in which they did not play at their best. 

I have my eyes on 30 wins to end the season and Sam Houston was the toughest remaining midweek game on the schedule. Baylor still has to play Incarnate Word, Tarleton State, and Stephen F. Austin all at Baylor Ballpark, but each of those is a winnable game. 

Also, don’t look now but this Baylor team is on a four-game winning streak heading into a big series this weekend against Texas. 

Final: Baylor  9 - Sam Houston State 5

W: Jake Jackson (3-3) L: Gavi Coldiron (1-3) S: Matt Voelker (2)

POTG: Kyle Nevin 2-4, R, 3B

WHAT’S NEXT

Baylor baseball (20-17, 4-8) will be traveling to Austin this weekend to take on conference opponent Texas (26-13). First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 P.M. on Friday night.