Baylor Baseball Unable to Win Series against Texas, Fall 11-1 in Series Finale
AUSTIN, Texas – In the last-ever series as conference foes, Baylor baseball (8-15, 3-6) dropped a three-game set to Texas (16-9, 4-2) and fell in the finale in eight innings, 11-1, Sunday afternoon at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
In the defeat, the Bears were 2-for-11 with runners on and were outhit by the Longhorns, 14-to-5. For the third consecutive game, UT’s starting pitcher tossed at least seven innings. On Sunday, right-hander Max Grubbs (So.) struck out five and allowed just one earned run across seven innings pitched.
Baylor got great performances out of the bullpen from veterans Drew Leach (RJr.) and Kobe Andrade (Sr.), but in the first and eighth innings, the Longhorns put up five spots in the frame against Mason Green (Fr.) and Stephen Sepulveda (Fr.).
“We were never allowed to get in the game offensively,” head coach Mitch Thompson said after the loss. “[Max Grubbs] did a good job. When you give up a five-spot, you’re chasing it right off the bat. That lineup is formidable and talented, if you make mistakes up in the zone, they make you pay. They made Mason Green pay in the first inning and they made Stephen Sepulveda pay in the eighth inning.”
After earning Big 12 Newcomer of the Week for an incredible outing against No. 24 Texas Tech, Green struggled mightily in his third collegiate start. In only one inning on the mound, Green gave up five hits, including multiple home runs.
Baylor broke its 12-inning scoreless streak in the seventh on Sunday. After a pair of base knocks from Enzo Apodaca (RJr.) and Hunter Teplanszky (Jr.), Daniel Altman (Sr.) lined an RBI single into left-center field. Altman was the lone Bear with a multi-hit performance in the contest.
Leach and Andrade were phenomenal out of the bullpen for the Bears, completely shutting down a talented Texas lineup. In three innings of work, Leach struck out three and surrendered one earned run. Andrade, on the other hand, allowed just one base runner in three shutout frames.
“[Leach and Andrade] gave us every opportunity to try and get back into it, and we couldn’t piece anything together offensively,” Thompson said. “I’m disappointed in the performance today and how the game started and how it ended. In between, [Leach and Andrade] were a bright spot, and that was good to see. I’m proud of them for that.”
In the eighth, the Longhorns broke the game open with a five-spot off Sepulveda to extend their lead to 11-1 and put the Big 12 run rule into effect. In the inning, the Big 12’s home run leader and right fielder Max Belyeu (So.) crushed a grand slam over the right field wall for his third long ball of the afternoon.
Final: Texas 11, Baylor 1
W: Max Grubbs (3-0) L: Mason Green (1-2)
POTG: Daniel Altman (2-for-2, RBI, BB)
WHAT’S NEXT
The Bears (8-15) will then return home to open an eight-game homestand against UTSA (11-12) at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 26.