Walk-Off Weekly: Bears Go Winless at Shriners Showdown, Beat Lamar in Home Opener
Baylor baseball opened its 2024 campaign with a winless record at the Shriners Children’s College Showndown at Globe Life Field in Arlington but showed major signs of improvement compared to last year.
On Friday, right-handed pitcher Mason Marriott (Jr.) had the best outing of his BU career but a misplay in left field gift-wrapped Nebraska a lead in the eighth inning, and the Cornhuskers eventually walked away with a 4-1 win to open the season.
Against Oregon on Saturday, an uncharacteristically bad outing from Grant Golomb (Sr.) out of the bullpen evaporated a 4-1 lead to the Ducks in the fifth inning. The Bears couldn’t get anything going late and ended up losing 7-4.
On Sunday, Baylor got out to a quick lead against No. 9 Tennessee before the talented and deep Volunteers lineup took control of the game with an 11-5 offensive outpouring.
In the home opener against Lamar on Tuesday, right fielder Enzo Apodaca (Jr.) and third baseman Hunter Teplanszky (Jr.) led the Bears and combined to go 6-for-9 with four RBIs at the plate in the 11-5 win.
Slugger of the Week – Hunter Simmons: (.353 AVG, 6-for-17, 3 R, 6 RBI, HR, 3B, 2 2B, 2 BB, 5 SO)
To start the season, left fielder Hunter Simmons (Sr.) has been absolutely crushing the ball. Over four games, four of his six hits have been for extra bases. In Tuesday’s win over Lamar, Simmons lasered a 373-foot grand slam down the left-field line in the bottom of the first inning.
The senior left fielder and designated hitter has done an excellent job driving in runs when he’s been at the plate so far. Had it not been for a few excellent plays by opposing outfielders over the weekend, Simmons would likely have another extra-base hit or two.
Heating Up – Enzo Apodaca: (.438 AVG, 7-for-16, 5 R, 4 RBI, HR, 3B, BB, 2 SO)
After a decent weekend at the plate at the Shriners Showdown (3-for-11), Apodaca returned home and picked up a career-high four base knocks, including his first home run of the year, in the win over Lamar on Tuesday.
As the younger arms work through some things on the mound early in the season, it’s imperative Apodaca, who is Baylor’s leadoff hitter, provides a spark at the top of the batting order. So far, the Bears have opened two of their four contests by scoring runs in the first inning, which is a great sign moving forward.
Cooling Off – Tyriq Kemp: (.167 AVG, 2-for-12, R, BB, 3 SO)
Coming into the spring, Baylor’s shortstop Tyriq Kemp (Jr.) was known for his great glove and his power at the dish. Unfortunately, neither has come to fruition after just four games. Kemp was a hitting machine throughout the fall, joining the likes of Apodaca and center fielder Ty Johnson (Jr.), but has looked overmatched so far.
With Kemp at the eight-hole and second baseman Jack Little (So.) being lost for the season and neither catcher – Harrison Caley (Sr.) or Cortlan Castle (Jr.) – starting the season on a strong note offensively, the bottom of the order has looked rather thin.
Ace of the Week – Mason Marriott: (5.2 IP, H, R, ER, 2 BB, 10 SO, 20 BF)
Coming into the year, Marriott was arguably Baylor’s biggest wild card. In his first two seasons in Waco, the junior righty went through many highs and lows, yet the coaching staff remained steadfast in their belief that he’d take a step forward this season.
That belief seemed to payoff because on Opening Day against Nebraska, Marriott was spectacular, striking out 10 of the 20 batters he faced. In the past, pitch command was a major concern for Marriott.
On Friday, the junior righty routinely got ahead of hitters and said after the game, “Coach [Leverton] and I worked on it all year – getting ahead of hitters – so I’m never pitching from behind, and I’m in attack mode the entire time.” If Marriott can consistently stay in “attack mode” and limit free passes, the sky is the limit for him this spring.
Nebraska’s lone hit was a bloop single over the first baseman’s head, and Marriott was shortly pulled afterward with a rising pitch count, only for the bullpen to allow the tying run to score and put a blemish on his otherwise spotless start.
Heating Up – Collin McKinney: (4.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 5 SO, 19 BF)
In his much-anticipated collegiate debut, Collin McKinney (RFr.) showed he belonged at the Power Five level. Against a talented Oregon lineup, the rookie fanned five Ducks and threw four one-hit frames before getting pulled in the fifth after putting two runners aboard.
The bullpen ultimately let both of those runs come around and score, but McKinney was about as impressive as you could ask for in his first career start. After missing last season recovering from Tommy John surgery, McKinney showed no signs of rust and was sitting around 94 miles per hour on his fastball.
With an improved Marriott on Friday nights and McKinney on Saturdays, the Bears' weekend rotation has a higher ceiling and looks more formidable than it has been in recent seasons.
Cooling Off – Grant Golomb: (0.2 IP, 3 H, R, ER, SO, 5 BF)
Golomb finished last season as Baylor’s most reliable arm out of the bullpen. Over his final four appearances (12 IP), he didn’t allow an earned run. With a 4-1 lead and runners on first and second with one out in the fifth inning, Thompson went to Golomb to get out of the jam against Oregon on Saturday.
The Ducks teed off on the veteran sidearmer and three of the five batters Golomb faced picked up a base knock. From that point forward, Oregon didn’t look back and ended up defeating Baylor, 7-4. Thompson said after the loss that he expects better from Golomb moving forward, which hopefully will be the case because he’ll be relied upon heavily this spring.
Coming Up
Baylor baseball (1-3) will continue its formidable first month of the season with a faceoff against the No. 23 Indiana Hoosiers (3-1) this weekend at Baylor Ballpark. Next Wednesday, the Bears will stay in Waco and face off against Abilene Christian (3-1) at 4 p.m.