Baylor Baseball Blown Out by Central Michigan in Saturday Contest, 20-5

WACO, Texas – Baylor Baseball (1-1) suffered a blowout loss in the second game of its series to Central Michigan (1-1) on Saturday, 20-5.

A 15-run sixth inning for Central Michigan overshadowed the four solid innings thrown by Saturday’s starter Cam Caley.

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Caley retired the first 10 batters he faced before allowing four runs in the fifth inning.

The disastrous 15-run sixth inning started with Blake Rogers, the freshman RHP from California who was making his first collegiate appearance.

After allowing a leadoff double, Rogers struck out the next two and got CMU’s catcher, Drew Stengren, to hit what appeared to be a weak grounder to first base.

However, some nasty topspin caused a fielding error on redshirt freshman Jack Johnson and put runners on the corners with two outs to extend the inning.

The following five hitters reached base safely, two on walks and three on singles before Rogers was ultimately pulled for junior transfer Cole Tremain. Rogers finished striking out three and allowing seven runs, but none were earned.

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Baylor’s offense finished with eight hits on the afternoon and left 13 men on base.

Tremain entered and allowed a three-run homer on the first pitch he threw. With the bases again clear, Tremain was unable to record an out and put the following six Chippewas on base, four via singles, one on a walk and one on a hit by pitch.

Tremain exited after allowing seven runs, all of which were earned. Fourteen straight batters reached base in the inning for Central Michigan. All 15 runs scored were with two outs.

"It was a tough one,” coach Mitch Thompson said after the loss. “It got away from us there in the sixth inning … We’re learning about our guys, about who can do things and who can’t right now. That’s part of this process. We’ll pick this one up, put it behind us as fast as we can and show up tomorrow to try and win a series.”

Baylor’s offense fought late and added four runs in the eighth. Transfers Hunter Simmons, Will Pendergrass and Hunter Teplanszky all picked up singles in the inning.

Freshman Ethan Calder and junior Brett Garcia pitched in relief and combined for three solid innings of work, striking out six and only allowing two base runners.

“I was proud of the way Ethan [Calder] threw the ball,” Thompson said.” I was proud of the way Brett [Garcia] came in and threw the ball. Those are good signs for us. We’re going to need to get some things out of those guys as we continue on in the season … So we’re going to take the good out of today and try to make it smell a little better.”

Final: Central Michigan 20 - Baylor 5

W: Adam Mrakitsch (1-0) L: Cam Caley (0-1) 

POTG: Hunter Teplanszky 2-3, 2 R, RBI, 2 BB

WHAT’S NEXT

Baylor Baseball (1-1) looks to close the series against Central Michigan (1-1) with a victory tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. at Baylor Ballpark.