Jordan Homers Twice, McKinney Deals as Baylor Baseball Cruises Past Incarnate Word, 15-3

WACO, Texas – Baylor baseball (13-17) extended its winning streak to five games, the longest of the Mitch Thompson era, with a 15-3 defeat of Incarnate Word (15-14) Saturday afternoon at Baylor Ballpark.

Baylor Athletics

All nine of Baylor’s starters reached base in the win, and the Bears totaled a season-high 18 base knocks.

In the victory, left fielder Wesley Jordan (Jr.) displayed his “light tower power” with the first multi-home run game of his BU career, which included a 476-foot moon shot in the first inning. Jordan finished the contest, going 3-for-5 at the plate and collecting four RBIs.

For the second consecutive game, all nine of Baylor’s starters reached base in the win, and the Bears eclipsed double-digit hits (18). Third baseman Hunter Teplanszky (Jr.) and second baseman Daniel Altman (Sr.) also racked up three-hit performances in the win.

Right-handed pitcher Collin McKinney (RFr.) continued his dominance on the mound Saturday, allowing just two hits and one earned run across five frames. McKinney retired the first nine batters he faced and totaled 10 strikeouts for the second straight week.

“It was fun to see Collin [McKinney] go out there and get after it from the first pitch on and have dominating stuff,” Thompson said postgame. “To then see us put up three in the first and three again in the second and take really good at-bats and hit balls hard – confidence builds. When you’re playing well and getting good pitching performances, good things happen.”

Jordan’s two-run, 476-foot bomb in the first was tied for his longest home run of the season and the second farthest at Baylor Ballpark since 2018. The Navarro College transfer leads the Bears in long balls (5) and is now third on the team in batting average (.330).

“I was excited seeing the wind blowing out today [coming into the game],” Jordan said. “You always like to see that as a power-guy. I got a nice fly ball and saw what it could do. I’m at my best when I’m trying to make hard contact, and I try to do that as much as I can.”

Teplanszky joined the first-inning home run party with a solo shot of his own over the wall in right-center field. It was Teplanszky’s third home run of the season and his 11th RBI in his last five games.

In the second, Jordan continued his hot streak with a bloop single into left field to score shortstop Tyriq Kemp (Jr.) from second base. The following at-bat, Altman lined a two-run single into center field. Altman has plated a run in eight of his last 10 contests.

Jack Mackenzie - SicEm365

RHP Collin McKinney (RFr.) became the first BU pitcher to eclipse double-digit strikeouts in consecutive starts since Kendal Volz in 2007-2008.

Incarnate Word added two runs in the fourth after some spotty defense from Baylor. To open the frame, former Bear and current Cardinals center fielder Cam Caley (Sr.) popped up a catchable ball into shallow left field that dropped in between Kemp and Jordan.

Later in the inning, an error on Altman on what could have been a 6-4-3 double play gifted Incarnate Word its first two runs of the day – only one went under McKinney’s ledger as earned.

“[McKinney] has great stuff and is just continuing to get better,” Thompson said. “He’s starting to believe in himself, he’s learning and it’s been fun to watch that happen.”

Baylor bounced back with a five-spot in the bottom of the fourth to extend its lead to 11-2. The lineup batted around, and five Bears delivered RBI singles in the frame: Teplanszky, Zach Mazoch (So.), Cole Posey (Sr.), Cortlan Castle (Jr.) and Enzo Apodaca (RJr.).

When McKinney’s afternoon was finished after five innings, he became the first BU pitcher to eclipse double-digit strikeouts in consecutive starts since Kendal Volz (13 versus Oklahoma on May 26, 2007, and 10 versus Purdue on February 22, 2008).

“I went out there and did what I love,” McKinney said. “It was great that I had a good start last weekend, and I carried that energy into today, and good things happened.”

In the fifth, Jordan added his second long ball of the afternoon – this time just a mere 411 feet over the left-center field wall. Jordan became the second player this season with a multi-homer game, joining Harrison Caley (Sr.), who hit two bombs against Stephen F. Austin on March 12.

Baylor Athletics

Saturday’s multi-homer game was the first of Wesley Jordan’s (Jr.) Baylor career.

In the seventh, Jack Johnson (RSo.) pinch-hit for Teplanszky and crushed his first career home run over the batter’s eye in center field to extend Baylor’s lead to 14-2. Johnson’s solo shot was the Bears 17th hit off the day – tying a season-high for Thompson’s squad.

Out of the bullpen, southpaw Ethan Calder (So.) tossed two shutout innings. Veteran righty Gabe Craig (RJr.) made his first appearance on the mound since Feb. 28 against Abilene Christian and tossed a scoreless frame.

Right-handed pitcher Jared Matheson (Sr.), who was making his first appearance since March 9 against Houston, closed out the contest in the ninth.

Final: Baylor 15, Incarnate Word 3

W: Collin McKinney (3-3) L: Isaiah Zavala (2-3)

POTG: Collin McKinney (5 IP, 2 H, 2 R, ER, 2 BB, 10 K, HBP, 20 BF, 90 pitches)

WHAT’S NEXT

Baylor baseball (13-17) will look to complete the sweep of Incarnate Word (15-14) on Sunday. The first pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Baylor Ballpark.