Jordan, Johnson push Baylor Baseball Past Sam Houston in Midweek Matchup, 9-3

WACO, Texas – Baylor baseball (19-20) got back in the win column with a 9-3 defeat of Sam Houston (24-17) Tuesday night at Baylor Ballpark.

In the victory, the Bears outhit Sam Houston, 10-to-7, and eclipsed double-digit base knocks (10) for the ninth time in the last 15 games. Designated hitter Wesley Jordan (Jr.) went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and reached base for the 30th consecutive game, marking just the second Bear to do so in the last decade – Davis Wendzel in 2018 was the other (37).

Baylor Athletics

CF Ty Johnson (Jr.) went 2-for-4 at the plate, scored three runs and stole a season-high three bases in the bases.

Catcher Brayden Buchanan (Fr.) had the best performance of his young Baylor career, going 2-for-3 and collecting his first two extra-base hits. Center fielder Ty Johnson (Jr.) also had a multi-hit contest, adding three runs, two RBIs and a season-high three stolen bases in the win.

“It was a really well-played game all the way around,” head coach Mitch Thompson said after the victory. “I thought we swung the bats well. We ran the bases well; we were aggressive and stole some bags. On the mound, I thought every guy that went out there threw the ball pretty well, threw strikes and commanded the zone.”

Right-handed pitcher Jared Matheson (Sr.) opened the midweek matchup on the bump for Baylor for the second consecutive week. Matheson was highly effective, tossing three no-hit frames, fanning two and walking just two batters.

Since returning from injury on April 6 against Incarnate Word, Matheson has allowed only one earned run across three outings on 6.2 innings pitched.

The Bears struck first with a run in the bottom of the first inning in the most unconventional way possible. With runners on the corners and two outs, Hunter Teplanszky (Jr.) intentionally fell down on his way to second base to confuse Sam Houston’s lefty starting pitcher, Gavi Coldiron (Sr.). With Coldiron frozen on the mound and occupied by Teplanszky, Johnson successfully stole home.

Baylor Athletics

DH Wesley Jordan (Jr.) went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and reached base for the 30th consecutive game.

To lead off the bottom of the third, Buchanan smacked his first career extra-base hit off the wall in center field for a triple. Johnson plated the run with an RBI infield single – his 13th of the season.

“I played really loose tonight, Buchanan said postgame. “I tried to get my best swing off and make good contract; it was a lot of fun.”

Once aboard, Johnson caused havoc on the basepaths again, stealing both second and third base and scoring on a balk to extend Baylor’s lead to 3-0.

In the fourth, shortstop Tyriq Kemp (Jr.) continued his recent success at the place with an RBI sacrifice fly into center field; Kemp was robbed of a potential extra-base hit after a diving catch by Sam Houston outfielder Jake Tatom (So.).

The Bearkats got on the board with a run in the fifth off lefty Mason Green (Fr.) and two runs in the sixth – one off Andrew Petrowski (RJr.), one off RJ Ruais (Fr.) – to cut Baylor’s lead to 4-3.

After only recording an out on Sunday before being pulled from his start, Green was Thompson’s first call out of the bullpen on Tuesday; he surrendered three hits and an earned run in 1.2 innings of work.

Baylor Athletics

RHP Jared Matheson (Sr.) opened Tuesday’s game on the mound and tossed three no-hit frames.

In the seventh, the Bears broke the game open with a four-spot, highlighted by a two-run triple off the batter’s eye in center field from Jordan.

The triple was Jordan’s team-leading 18th extra-base hit of the year and was mere inches from being a homer to straightaway center; it was 110 miles per hour off the bat. Johnson and Teplanszky also plated runs in the frame.

“I’m a little upset it didn’t get over; I might have to hit the weight room a little bit harder,” Jordan said postgame. “Honestly, I didn’t even know I was at 30; I didn’t know I had a streak going at all. It’s something you don’t want to think about because as soon as you do, you jinx yourself, so I’m going to try and keep doing what I’m doing.”

Veteran relievers Gabe Craig (RJr.) and Kobe Andrade (Sr.) shut the door on the contest, combining for three scoreless innings and seven strikeouts. Baylor’s pitching staff issued just three total walks in the victory.

Final: Baylor 9, Sam Houston 3

W: Jared Matheson (1-1) L: Gavi Coldiron (3-4)

POTG: Wesley Jordan (2-for-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, 3B, HBP)

WHAT’S NEXT

Baylor baseball (19-20, 9-9) will return to travel to Morgantown for a three-game conference set against the West Virginia Mountaineers (23-16, 11-7). First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.