Baylor Baseball Swept by Houston to Open Conference Play, Lose Sunday, 3-2
HOUSTON – Baylor baseball (4-11, 0-3) opened Big 12 play by getting swept by Houston (11-4, 3-0) and dropping the series finale to the Cougars, 3-2, on Sunday at Schroeder Park.
Against Oral Roberts last weekend, the Bears totaled over 30 runs and 40 hits. In the sweep to Houston, Baylor mustered just five total runs and 16 hits in the three-game set.
On the mound, lefty Mason Green (Fr.) made his first career start on Sunday and was fantastic – striking out three and allowing three earned runs across 5.1 innings pitched. Out of the bullpen, Stephen Sepulveda (Fr.), Ethan Calder (So.) and Patrick Hail (RJr.) kept the game within striking distance for the Bears’ batting order.
Trailing 3-1 in the eighth inning, Baylor had runners on second and third base with just one out, but the Bears were only able to plate one run. In the ninth, left fielder Daniel Altman (Sr.) lined a one-out single up the middle but was left stranded at first base to end the game.
“There was good effort [today],” head coach Mitch Thompson said after the loss. “It was a really nice pitching performance from Mason Green. He gave us the opportunity to be in the game and have a chance to win it. I was proud of him but disappointed we couldn't get enough runs across.”
The Bears' first base knock of the day came in the fifth inning when Altman lined a double into the right-center field gap. Second baseman Mason Greer (Sr.) followed with a bloop single into center field to put runners on the corners with one out.
Third baseman Hunter Teplanszky (Jr.), who has been struggling mightily in his last few games, struck out swinging on a breaking ball not even close to the strike zone, and shortstop Tyriq Kemp (Jr.) followed with a weak fly ball into center to end the frame.
In the bottom of the fifth, Houston took a 1-0 lead when third baseman Alex Lopez (Sr.) lined an RBI double down the right field line.
The Bears bounced back in the sixth when catcher Cortlan Castle (Jr.) picked up a two-out infield single and Enzo Apodaca (RJr.) crushed a game-tying RBI triple off the right field wall that was just mere inches from being a go-ahead home run.
Green returned to the mound for the sixth and surrendered back-to-back hits, including a two-run homer to left fielder Cary Arbolida (Sr.) to take a 3-1 lead.
Meanwhile, Houston’s starter right-handed pitcher Duncan Howard (Sr.) allowed just four hits and one earned run across six innings, striking out five and not issuing a single walk.
Final: Houston 3 - Baylor 2
W: Duncan Howard (2-0) L: Mason Green (0-1) S: Justin Murray (1)
POTG: Enzo Apodaca (1-for-4; 3B, RBI)
WHAT’S NEXT
Baylor baseball (4-11) will return to Waco to faceoff against Stephen F. Austin (3-14) on Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. at Baylor Ballpark.