Caley’s Career Night Powers Baylor Baseball Past SFA, 17-4
WACO, Texas – Behind a career night from senior catcher Harrison Caley, Baylor baseball (5-11) powered past Stephen F. Austin (3-16) Tuesday night, 17-4, at Baylor Ballpark.
Caley hit two home runs as part of his career-best four-hit night and became the first Bear since 2019 to drive in seven or more runs. Redshirt junior infielder Will Pendergrass added a pair of hits, including a two-run shot, as BU put up its most runs in a game since 2022.
After allowing four runs in the second inning, six Baylor relievers combined to hold the Lumberjacks scoreless over the final seven frames and limited SFA to just two hits. Meanwhile, all nine BU starters recorded at least one hit and eight of the nine scored a run in the victory.
THE RUNDOWN
After a scoreless first inning, SFA got on the board first with a four-spot in the second, thanks in part to a two-run home run and back-to-back RBI singles. But Baylor responded with six runs in the bottom half of the inning to take the lead and didn’t look back from there. Caley’s two-run blast opened the BU scoring, then redshirt junior outfielder Enzo Apodaca doubled in a pair to tie it and came around on junior outfielder Wesley Jordan’s RBI single to go ahead 5-4. Senior infielder Daniel Altman chased him in with a run-scoring single to cap off the big inning.
In the third, Caley reached on a bunt single and advanced on an SFA throwing error which also allowed a run to score. Junior outfielder Ty Johnson then reached on an RBI fielder’s choice to make it 8-4, Bears.
It was Caley doing the damage once again in the fourth, singling in a pair of runs to swell the lead to 10-4 ahead of BU’s seven-run fifth inning, which tied a season best. Jordan picked up his second RBI of the night with a double before Pendergrass delivered a two-run homer to make it 13-4. After a walk and a single put two on in front of Caley, he left the yard once more to increase Baylor’s advantage to 16-4. Apodaca put the cherry on top with an RBI single to close the scoring at 17-4.
From there, it was all zeroes on the mound as redshirt freshman right-hander Tanner Duke and freshman southpaw Jackson Elizondo combined to strike out five over the next 2.2 innings. After senior righty Grant Golomb got an inning-ending out on five pitches in the eighth, freshman lefty RJ Ruais capped it off in the ninth with a 1-2-3 frame that included two punchouts.
Redshirt junior right-hander Drew Leach picked up the win, his second of the year, after throwing two scoreless frames. Senior righty Cole Stasio also made his second appearance out of the bullpen and pitched a clean inning.
QUOTABLE
Head Coach Mitch Thompson
On tonight’s offensive performance…
“We’ve just got to keep going. Hitting is contagious and the thing we have to overcome, mature and get through is that we can’t all go in the tank at the same time. Two weeks ago against Oral Roberts we swung the bats good all weekend. Last weekend against Houston we didn’t, we didn’t make very good adjustments or fight through things [against UH]. Tonight was a really good night and the challenge will be to keep showing that.”
Senior Catcher Harrison Caley
On his big night at the plate…
“I think it was just seeing the ball well. I was trying to get good pitches to hit and it worked out for me. I think this gives us some momentum going into the weekend and it’s a good step forward to see all of our guys perform like that. We’re at the point in the year where we can trust one another and I think if we just keep it moving, then good things will happen.”
Redshirt Junior Infielder Will Pendergrass
On hitting a home run against his father’s [SFA Assistant Coach Rusty Pendergrass] team…
“Yeah, it feels awesome. Now I have bragging rights in the house so it’s a good feeling. He was happy for me [when I hit the home run]. [Exchanging the lineup cards with him] was probably one of the coolest things I’ve ever done. He’s done so much for me and the game. I grew up around the ballpark, watching him scout since I was really little, so that was definitely a gratifying moment. It was really cool.”
WHAT’S NEXT
Baylor (5-11, 0-3) hosts No. 23 Texas Tech (12-4, 1-2) for a three-game series at Baylor Ballpark, beginning on Friday, March 15, at 6:30 p.m.