Baylor Baseball Earns Road Series Win, Overcomes Late Deficit to Beat BYU in Extras, 8-5

PROVO, Utah – Baylor baseball (15-18, 7-7) picked up a series victory over BYU (14-17, 6-11) with an 8-5 come-from-behind, extra-innings victory Friday night at Miller Park.

In the win, the Bears trailed 4-2 entering the ninth inning before scraping across two runs against the Cougars star closer, Stone Cushing (Jr.), to tie the game at four apiece.

With runners on second and third base in the tenth, shortstop Tyriq Kemp (Jr.) delivered a clutch two-run double down the right-field line. Later in the frame, outfielders Enzo Apodaca (RJr.) and Ty Johnson (Jr.) picked up insurance RBI base knocks to extend Baylor’s lead.

Baylor Athletics

Baylor outhit BYU in Friday’s win, 12-to-9. The Bears trailed 4-2 entering the ninth inning before coming out with the extra-innings victory.

Johnson boosted BU’s lineup with a four-hit performance in the victory – a career-high. Kemp and first baseman Cole Posey (Sr.) also had multi-hit contests.

“[This win] showed what this team is about,” Johnson said postgame. “We’re just a bunch of grinders. We’re not the most talented team in the country, but we’re a bunch of grinders. Obviously, we’re down by two going into the ninth, and we scrap something together – we’re figuring out ways to win.”

The series victory gives the Bears their first road series win in conference play since 2021 against Texas Tech. Friday’s victory marked the first time this season that Baylor won a game, despite trailing after the seventh.

“It was a really big-time character-building win,” head coach Mitch Thompson said postgame. “We’re not doing it against chopped liver out there either – that bullpen is good. That bullpen has good arms, and they’ve done a really nice job all year. The fun part for me is to see the guys continue to fight and continue to believe.”

Out of the bullpen for Baylor, five arms – Patrick Hail (RJr.), Kobe Andrade (Sr.), Gabe Craig (RJr.), Drew Leach (RJr.), Ethan Calder (So.)  – combined to surrender just one earned run across the final seven frames of the contest. 

After missing over a month with an injury, Craig earned his first victory of the season with his best performance on the mound in a Baylor uniform, getting out of a jam unscathed in the eighth and striking out two Cougars on a pair of nasty pitches.

Baylor Athletics

Center fielder Ty Johnson (Jr.) boosted BU’s lineup with a four-hit performance in the victory – a career-high.

“The slider felt really good tonight,” Craig said. “I felt like I went out there with a lot of confidence knowing I was the right guy for the moment, and I think that played it into big. I was throwing [my fastball and slider] with a lot of conviction, just letting the chips fall where they may.”

“We’re learning, and we’re getting quality pitching,” Thompson said. “We’re playing pretty good defense and we’re in games. … It’s fun to see the guys continuing to work. I’m glad they get rewarded for this one tonight – I’m really proud of how we had to fight to get this one.”

Baylor’s offense got off to a slow start in the first half of the contest, aside from a 389-foot solo shot from Posey in the second inning.

BYU’s starting pitcher, Bryce Robison (Sr.), shut down the Bears’ batting order early on Friday. In six innings of work, Robison issued just one free pass and struck out three while only allowing one earned run.

Baylor Athletics

The series victory gives the Bears their first road series win in conference play since 2021 against Texas Tech.

Left-handed pitcher Mason Green (Fr.) opened the game on the bump for Baylor. After a clean first inning, Green walked the leadoff batter in back-to-back frames, and both came around to eventually score in the second and third.

The freshman lefty’s evening was finished after three innings, fanning five but surrendering three earned runs and three hits on 53 pitches. Three of BYU’s first four runs scored after reaching via a free pass.

With runners on first and second in the seventh, the Bears closed in on the Cougars lead, 4-2, on an RBI double into left field from catcher Cortlan Castle (Jr.). With the tying run at second in the following at-bat, Apodaca struck out with two runners aboard to end the frame.

Final: Baylor 8, BYU 5

W: Gabe Craig (1-0) L: Cutter Clawson (0-5) S: Ethan Calder (2)

POTG: Ty Johnson (4-for-6, RBI, SB)

WHAT’S NEXT

Baylor baseball (15-18, 7-7) will look to complete the sweep over the BYU Cougars (14-17, 6-11) at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Miller Park.