Bats Push Baylor Baseball Past Incarnate Word in Series Opener, 13-7

WACO, Texas – Baylor baseball (12-17) recorded its fourth-straight victory with a 13-7 thrashing of Incarnate Word (15-13) Friday night at Baylor Ballpark.

In the win, all nine of the Bears starters reached base and scored a run. Baylor’s batting order put together an incredible performance, picking up double-digit base knocks (13) for the 11th time this season. Cole Posey (Sr.) and Enzo Apodaca (RJr.) added home runs in the contest.

Left fielder Caleb Bergman (So.) had the first three-hit game of his career, and two other Bears had multi-hit performances – Apodaca and Ty Johnson (Jr.).

Jack Mackenzie - SicEm365

All nine of Baylor’s starters reached base and scored a run in the victory Friday night. 

“I thought the quality of at-bats were good,” head coach Mitch Thompson said after the victory. “I thought our pitch selection was really good. I didn’t think we chased early in the game. We ran the bases very aggressively.”

With two outs in the bottom of the first inning and the bases juiced, Posey was at the plate for just his 18th at-bat of the season. Posey, who was making his first career start at first base on Friday, crushed a grand slam in a 2-2 count over the left field wall for his second hit of the year.

“I think I blacked out for about 45 seconds,” Posey said postgame. “With two strikes, I choked up and didn’t try to do too much. It’s funny how that happens sometimes, right? It ends up being the best swing, but some great at-bats before that to get me in that position.”

In the second, the offensive outpouring continued when Apodaca smoked a 399-foot, two-run shot over the right field wall. Apodaca currently sports a team-high eight-game hitting streak and is tied for the most home runs on the Bears with three.

Later in the frame, third baseman Hunter Teplanszky (Jr.) shot a two-run single through the right side to extend Baylor’s lead to 8-2. Teplanszky has plated a run in five straight contests and is 10-for-19 at the plate in his last five games.

Jack Mackenzie - SicEm365

Cole Posey (Sr.), who was making his first career start at first base on Friday, crushed a grand slam in the first inning for his second hit of the year.

In the fourth, the Bears posted their third four-spot of the ballgame via a handful of defensive miscues from Incarnate Word. Shortstop Tyriq Kemp (Jr.) and Johnson picked up RBIs in the inning, but three of the four runs were unearned.

In his eighth start of the season, right-handed pitcher Mason Marriott (Jr.) earned his first victory on the mound. After allowing a two-run home run in the first inning to the Cardinals designated hitter, Dalton Beck (Jr.), Marriott settled in nicely and tossed a solid outing.

In five innings of work, the Tomball native punched out seven and allowed four hits and three earned runs. It was the third time this season that Marriott had seven or more strikeouts.

“His stuff is always good, but he got better [as the game went on],” Thompson said. “He was frustrated by not getting a call or two that he wanted, but I was glad to get him through five innings with that big of a lead.”

Out of the bullpen, veteran righty Patrick Hail (RJr.) surrendered a three-run shot to UIW’s second-baseman Tony DeJesus (So.) in the seventh inning to cut into Baylor’s lead, 13-7.

Right-handed pitcher Andrew Petrowski (RJr.) and lefty Kobe Andrade (Sr.) combined to close out the game with 2.1 scoreless frames on the mound.

Final: Baylor 13, Incarnate Word 7

W: Mason Marriott (1-3) L: Josh Salinas (3-1)

POTG: Caleb Bergman (3-for-5, 2 R, RBI, SB)

WHAT’S NEXT

Baylor baseball (12-17) will continue its series against Incarnate Word (15-13) on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Baylor Ballpark.