Preview: Baylor Baseball to Finish Season against Cal State Bakersfield

WACO, Texas – Baylor baseball (17-35) will close out the 2023 season with a series against Cal State Bakersfield (18-28).

The first pitch Thursday is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Friday’s game will start at 6:30 p.m., and the season will conclude Saturday with a 2 p.m. series finale. All three games will be streamed on ESPN+.

Jack Mackenzie - SicEm365

Baylor will miss this Big 12 Tournament for the first time in program history.

Baylor Bears

2023 Record (RPI): 17-35 (No. 157)

Head Coach: Mitch Thompson

• Career Record: 17-35 (1st season) 
• Record at Baylor: 17-35 (1st season)

Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners

2023 Record (RPI): 18-28 (No. 240)

Head Coach: Jeremy Beard

• Career Record: 138-192 (7th season) 
• Record at CSUB: 138-192 (7th season) 

2023 STAT LEADERS

Jack Mackenzie - SicEm365

Freshman SS Kolby Branch leads the Bears in every offensive category.

• AVG: Kolby Branch (.319)
• H: Kolby Branch (65)
• 2B: Kolby Branch (16)
• HR: Kolby Branch, John Ceccoli, Hunter Teplanszky (5)
• RBI: Kolby Branch (37)
• R: Kolby Branch (43)
• OB%: Kolby Branch (.417)
• BB: Kolby Branch (35)

Probable Starting Fielders: Baylor

Levi Caraway - SicEm365

Sophomore C Cort Castle was 5-for-12 at the plate last weekend against TCU.

• C: So. Cort Castle (.308, .373 OB%)
• 1B: R-Fr. Jack Johnson (.186, .279 OB%) 
• 2B: Jr. Cole Posey (.284, .401 OB%)
• 3B: So. Hunter Teplanszky (.313, .409 OB%)
• SS: Fr. Kolby Branch (.319, .417 OB%)
• LF: Jr. Hunter Simmons (.313, .369 OB%)
• CF: Jr. Daniel Altman (.212, .357 OB%)
• RF: R-Fr. Gavin Brzozowski (.239, .360 OB%)
• DH: Jr. Cole Tremain (.275, .324 OB%)

Probable Starting Pitchers

• BU SP1: RHP Mason Marriott (1-7, 7.57 ERA)
• CSUB SP1: RHP Ryan Verdugo (4-6, 6.02 ERA)
• BU SP2: RHP Will Rigney (3-3, 4.45 ERA)
• CSUB SP2: LHP Matt Comnos (3-4, 2.95 ERA)
• BU SP3: TBD
• CSUB SP3: TBD

What I Am Looking For

• Last series of the year. End on a good note if possible and don’t get embarrassed.