Baylor Walks-Off Central Michigan in Thompson's Debut, 6-5

WACO, Texas – In Mitch Thompson’s debut as head coach, Baylor Baseball (1-0) secured a walk-off victory over Central Michigan (0-1) in the tenth inning, 6-5.

With two outs in the tenth, freshman second baseman Kolby Branch drew a walk and made it to third base after a balk and a passed ball. Redshirt freshman third baseman Jack Johnson came to the plate and lined his first career hit into center field to score Branch and give Baylor the comeback win on Opening Day.

Baylor Athletics

Baylor overcame a 4-1 deficit to win the first game of the season.

Blake Helton’s first game as the Friday starter didn’t go as anticipated. Helton struggled to finish in 0-2 counts and ended the game walking two and allowing two earned runs and six hits in 3.1 innings pitched.

In the bottom of the third, the Baylor offense scored its first run of the season on an RBI infield single from sophomore Austin Stracener. 

Junior Grant Golomb entered to pitch in relief for Helton and struggled to hit the strike zone consistently. In the top of the fifth inning, Golomb walked the bases loaded and proceeded to nail the Central Michigan nine-hole with a pitch and walked the leadoff hitter to extend the Chippewas lead to 4-1. 

Baylor fought back in the bottom of the fifth and added two runs of their own to cut the CMU lead to 4-3. The first run came on an RBI single into left field from sophomore designated hitter Casen Neumann. The second run of the inning came from a perfectly executed two-out double steal where junior left fielder Cole Posey stole home.

Baylor Athletics

In his first collegiate game, Kolby Branch went 3-5 with 2 RBIs and scored the game-winning run.

In the bottom of the seventh, Branch came up clutch with a bases-loaded two-out 2 RBI single to give the Bears their first lead of the day, 5-4.

Hambleton Oliver and Cole Stasio combined for five excellent innings in relief. Oliver finished allowing only an earned run and striking out two on 47 pitches. Stasio struck out four on 33 pitches.

Final: Baylor 6 - Central Michigan 5

W: Cole Stasio (1-0) L: Nate Ross (0-1) 

POTG: Kolby Branch 3-5, R, 2 RBI, BB

TOP QUOTES

Mitch Thompson on the team’s effort in his first victory as Baylor’s head coach:

“Kolby Branch, first college game he’s ever played, had three hits and two RBIs. Jack Johnson, first college game he ever played, gets the game-winner. It doesn’t get much better than that. Hambleton Oliver, big time out of the bullpen. Stasio, big time out of the bullpen. You’ve got to love those types of things. ”

Jack Johnson on Mitch Thompson’s first win:

“Being around Mitch all the time, the energy here has been awesome with him, and you finally felt it here at the ballpark the first game. I think it means everything to this team to get that first win for him.”

WHAT’S NEXT

Baylor Baseball (1-0) continues their series against Central Michigan (0-1) tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m. at Baylor Ballpark.