Preview: Baylor Baseball Welcomes Youngstown State for a Weekend Series

WACO, Texas — Baylor Baseball (2-6) will face Youngstown State (1-7) for a four-game set this weekend at Baylor Ballpark. Friday’s game is slated to start at 6:30 p.m. and will be available to watch on ESPN+. Saturday’s doubleheader will kick off at 2 p.m., and Sunday’s first pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. However, neither Saturday nor Sunday’s games will be televised.

BAYLOR BEARS

Jack Mackenzie - SicEm365

Mitch Thompson’s Bears are off to a slow 2-6 start to the 2023 season.

2023 Record: 2-6

Head Coach: Mitch Thompson

• Career Record: 374-144 (10th season) 
• Record at Baylor: 2-6 (1st season)

2023 Projections

• D1Baseball: 9th in the Big 12
• Coaches Poll: 9th in the Big 12

Youngstown State Penguins

2023 Record: 1-7

Head Coach: Dan Bertolini

• Career Record: 107-193 (7th season) 
• Career Record: 107-193 (7th season) 

2023 STAT LEADERS

SicEm365

Kolby Branch leads the team in AVG (.367), hits (11), RBI (10), runs (8) and OBP (.472).

• AVG: Kolby Branch (.367)
• H: Kolby Branch (11)
• 2B: Kobe Andrade, Kolby Branch (3)
• HR: Kobe Andrade, Kolby Branch, Gavin Brzozowski, John Ceccoli (1)
• RBI: Kolby Branch (10)
• R: Kolby Branch (8)
• OB%: Kolby Branch (.472)
• BB: Kolby Branch (6)

Probable Starting Fielders: Baylor

C: Jr. Harrison Caley (.250, 8 AB, R, 2 H, RBI, BB, .333 OB%)

1B: So. John Ceccoli (.241, 29 AB, 3 R, 7 H, HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB, .290 OB%) 

2B: Fr. Kolby Branch (.367, 30 AB, 8 R, 11 H, 3 2B, HR, 10 RBI, 6 BB, .472 OB%)

3B: So. Hunter Teplanszky (.333, 21 AB, 3 R, 7 H, RBI, 3 BB, 2 HBP, .444 OB%)

SS: So. Austin Stracener (.278, 18 AB, 5 H, 2B, RBI, BB, .316 OB%)

LF: Jr. Hunter Simmons (.250, 24 AB, R, 6 H, 2 BB, 2 RBI, 2 BB, HBP, .333 OB%)

CF: Jr. Kobe Andrade (.241, 29 AB, 3 R, 7 H, 3 2B, 2 3B, HR, 4 RBI, 2 BB, .281 OB%)

RF: RS-Fr. Gavin Brzozowski (.200, 25 AB, 4 R, 5 H, HR, 4 RBI, 4 BB, 2 HBP .355 OB%)

DH: So. Casen Neumann (.091, 11 AB, R, H, RBI, 2 BB, .214 OB%)

*Cole Posey (OF), Will Pendergrass (3B/1B/DH), Cort Castle (C) and Jack Johnson (1B/3B) will all see time throughout the weekend. 

Probable Starting Pitchers

Baylor Athletics

Sophomore Mason Marriott struck out a career-high seven batters in last Sunday’s contest against Duke.

BU SP1: RHP Blake Helton (0-1, 14.14 ERA, 2.71 WHIP, 7.0 IP)

YSU SP1: RHP Travis Perry (1-0, 5.73 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 11.0 IP)

BU SP2: RHP Mason Marriott (0-1, 6.23 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 8.2 IP)

YSU SP2: RHP Nick Perez (0-2, 10.00 ERA, 2.56 WHIP, 9.0 IP)

BU SP3: LHP Cam Caley (0-2, 11.57 ERA, 2.14 WHIP, 7.0 IP)

YSU SP3: RHP Brandon Mikos (0-2, 9.90 ERA, 1.90 WHIP, 10.0 IP)

BU SP4: TBD

YSU SP4: TBD

What I Am Looking For This Weekend

• Baylor needs to win three games this weekend at the bare minimum.
• Blake Helton and Cam Caley need to bounce back with good starts this weekend. Mason Marriott needs to continue to build on last weekend’s solid performance with another good outing.
• The offense has scored six or more runs one time this team this season. That needs to change against Youngstown State.

Quick Side Notes

• I will cover Friday’s game from home, but I am going on vacation for spring break from Saturday through Thursday.