Baylor Baseball Completes Sweep, Beats Oral Roberts in Series Finale, 11-7

WACO, Texas – Baylor baseball (4-7) clinched its first series sweep of the season with an 11-7 come-from-behind victory over Oral Roberts (4-7) Sunday afternoon at Baylor Ballpark.

Trailing 7-5 going into the bottom of the seventh inning, the scrappy and short-handed Bears lineup was able to plate three runs to take the lead, including center fielder Daniel Altman (Sr.) scoring the go-ahead run on a wild pitch after some heads up base-running.

Baylor Athletics

Baylor’s batting order put up a season-high 16 hits in Sunday’s 11-7 victory.

In the eighth, the Bears added three insurance runs with third baseman Hunter Teplanszky (Jr.) delivering an RBI double down the left field line and designated hitter Wesley Jordan (Jr.) unloading a two-run homer over the left-center field wall.

Lefty RJ Ruais (Fr.) came out of the bullpen and closed out the ninth with a shutout frame to secure the victory.

“It was fun to see guys take advantage of their opportunities – being ready for the moment,” head coach Mitch Thompson said after the win. “That’s a good ballclub we beat. The guys out there starting on Friday and Saturday were starting games in Omaha last year; [ORU] is real and this was a really good win.”

In each of the three games this weekend, Baylor’s batting order was able to reach double-digit hits, including a season-high 16 base knocks on Sunday. In the come-from-behind win, all nine starters reached base, and six Bears had multi-hit performances: Enzo Apodaca (RJr.), Zach Mazoch (So.), Kade Fletcher (RJr.), Tyriq Kemp (Jr.), Altman and Jordan.

The sweep of Oral Roberts marks just the second time in Thompson’s tenure that the Bears have swept an opponent, the first being against UC Bakersfield in 2023.

“You see the tenacity,” Thompson said. “You see the persistence and perseverance. There was a lot of fight in the dugout. They wanted it, and Oral Roberts was trying with all their heart not to get swept and ride home with three losses. I’m really proud.”

Baylor Athletics

RHP Cole Stasio (Sr.) made his 2024 debut on the mound in Sunday’s victory.

Veteran right-handed pitcher Cole Stasio (Sr.) started the game on the bump for the Bears on Sunday. It was his first appearance on the mound since suffering a season-ending arm injury on April 18, 2023, against Sam Houston. 

Stasio showed some rust in his first outing back, allowing two earned runs and three hits in an inning of work.

The Bears tied the game at two apiece in the third when Mazoch pushed a two-run single through the right side for his first base knock of the season.

Out of the bullpen, the Golden Eagles plated runs in each of the fourth and fifth innings off lefty Mason Green (Fr.) to take a 4-2 lead. In his fourth appearance on the mound this season, Green struck out three and surrendered five hits across three frames.

In the fifth, Apodaca lined a lead-off double into the left-center field gap. Later in the inning, Mazoch came through again with an RBI infield single to cut ORU’s lead to 4-3.

With a runner on second and one out in the sixth, Fletcher crushed a game-tying RBI double off the left-field wall. Kemp followed with a sharp single to put runners at the corners for catcher Cortlan Castle (Jr.).

Baylor Athletics

On the mound, freshman pitchers Mason Green, Stephen Sepulveda and RJ Ruais contributed for over five of the nine innings tossed Sunday.

Castle pushed a perfect go-ahead RBI sacrifice bunt down the first base line to score Fletcher and give the Bears their first lead of the day, 5-4.

After two perfect frames in the middle innings, right-handed pitcher Drew Leach (RJr.) issued back-to-back walks before getting pulled for Stephen Sepulveda (Fr.) in the seventh. Sepulveda struggled to get out of the jam, allowing the Golden Eagles to plate three runs and take the lead back, 7-5.

In the bottom of the seventh, first baseman Will Pendergrass (RJr.) lined a solo shot over the left field wall, his first of the season. Pendergrass finished the weekend going 6-for-14 at the plate with four extra-base hits. Later in the frame, in his first collegiate start, second baseman Chase Womack (Fr.) tied the game with an RBI groundout – it was the first RBI of his career.

Final: Baylor 11 - Oral Roberts 7

W: Stephen Sepulveda (1-0) L: Caleb Isaacs (0-1)

POTG: Wesley Jordan (2-for-2, 2 RBI, HR, 2 R)

WHAT’S NEXT

Baylor baseball (4-7) will finish its nine-game homestand with a midweek matchup against No. 25 Dallas Baptist (9-1) on Tuesday at Baylor Ballpark. First pitch is at 6:30 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN+.