Baylor Baseball Wins Tuesday Tilt over Houston Christian, 13-5

WACO, Texas – Baylor baseball (11-17) won its third consecutive game with a 13-5 victory over Houston Christian (9-19) Tuesday night at Baylor Ballpark.

After the Huskies issued three straight free passes to open the seventh inning, second baseman Daniel Altman (Sr.) smoked a bases-clearing, go-ahead triple down the right field line to give the Bears their first lead of the night, 6-4. It was the second time this season that Baylor pulled out a victory when trailing after the sixth.

“[Getting a win was] awesome,” Altman said postgame. “We have struggled in midweek games, but we’ve also played some tough opponents – credit to them, but it’s a really nice feeling to come out here on a Tuesday night and get a [win].”

Baylor broke the game open with a six-spot in the eighth, highlighted by a two-run single from third baseman Hunter Teplanszky (Jr.). Over his last four contests, Teplanszky is 8-for-16 at the plate with nine RBIs and four extra-base hits 

Baylor Athletics

Baylor is now 3-4 in midweek games on the season and won its first Tuesday tilt since March 12 against Stephen F. Austin.

Lefty Ethan Calder (So.) picked up the win with two perfect frames on the mound. Calder has the team's lowest ERA (2.28), and eight of his 11 appearances out of the bullpen have been scoreless.

Baylor is now 3-4 in midweek games on the season and won its first Tuesday tilt since March 12 against Stephen F. Austin.

“I was proud of our bullpen,” head coach Mitch Thompson said after the victory. “I felt like, after the first couple of innings, we settled in and really pitched the ball well. We made a lot of plays on defense and got enough going on offense and had some big hits.”

Baylor’s patented early deficits in midweek contests continued on Tuesday when the Huskies added three runs in the first two innings off lefty RJ Ruais (Fr.).

The Bears bounced back in the bottom of the second with a three-spot. Catcher Cortlan Castle (Jr.) and center fielder Ty Johnson (Jr.) both delivered RBI singles in the frame.

Baylor Athletics

Baylor outhit Houston Christian in Tuesday’s victory, 11-to-10.

Houston Christian regained the lead in the third, 4-3, when first baseman Tyler LaRue (Sr.) crushed his seventh home run of the season over the left field wall off veteran reliever Andrew Petrowski (RJr.).

In relief of Petrowski, right-handed pitcher Stephen Sepulveda (Fr.) entered the ballgame and fanned the first six batters he faced. It was the first time since 2007 that a Baylor pitcher recorded at least six consecutive strikeouts.

For Houston Christian, right-hander Nicholas Willard (Sr.) dominated the Bears in the middle innings. He pitched three shutout frames with four strikeouts and only allowed one base runner.

After Altman’s bases-clearing triple in the seventh, a Huskies defensive error allowed the senior utility man to score later in the inning to give Baylor another insurance run, 7-4.

Final: Baylor 13, Houston Christian 5

W: Ethan Calder (3-1) L: Jonathon Valdez (0-2)

POTG: Daniel Altman (1-for-4, 3 RBI, R, 3B, BB)

WHAT’S NEXT

Baylor baseball (11-17) will round out its eight-game homestand with a three-game set against Incarnate Word (15-11). First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.