Baylor Baseball Can’t Overcome Free Passes in Series Finale, Swept by No. 21 West Virginia
MORGANTOWN, WV – Baylor baseball (19-23, 9-12) was swept by No. 21 West Virginia (26-17, 14-7) and dropped its third consecutive game to the Mountaineers, 13-4, Sunday afternoon at Kendrick Family Ballpark.
The Bears' pitching staff combined to issue 11 walks and hit a season-high five batters in the defeat. Six of West Virginia’s 13 runs scored after reaching base via a free pass.
First baseman Cole Posey (Sr.) carried Baylor’s offense with a three-hit, two-home run performance in the loss. Posey was responsible for nine total bases and three of the Bears' six hits; it was his sixth multi-hit game of the season.
Southpaw Ethan Calder (So.) opened the series finale on the mound for his first career start in a Baylor uniform. Entering Sunday’s contest, Calder had issued just four total walks on the season.
The lefty didn’t have his best stuff against the Mountaineers; he handed out four free passes and surrendered a two-run homer to first baseman Grant Hussey (Jr.) in the second inning.
Posey kept the Bears out in front with a two-run homer in the second and a solo shot in the fourth. The two long balls were the Georgetown native’s third and fourth home runs of the year, respectively.
Shortstop Tyriq Kemp (Jr.) led off the top of the fifth with a double down the right-field line – his seventh extra-base in his last 10 games. Catcher Cortlan Castle (Jr.) advanced Kemp to third base with a sacrifice bunt and right fielder Enzo Apodaca (RJr.) plated the run with an RBI ground out.
The game went haywire for the Bears in the bottom of the fifth, however. Veteran righty Drew Leach (RJr.) put the first five batters he faced in the frame aboard, four of which by free passes.
Left-handed pitcher Kobe Andrade (Sr.) entered the jam and mitigated the damage, but the Mountaineers took their first lead of the day, 5-4.
The game got out of reach when West Virginia hung a five-spot in the seventh. Baylor pitchers issued three bases-loaded walks in the contest. The Mountaineers added four more runs off righty Stephen Sepulveda (Fr.) in the eighth inning.
Final: No. 21 West Virginia 13, Baylor 4
W: Aidan Major (4-3) L: Drew Leach (2-1)
POTG: Cole Posey (3-for-3, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 2 R, BB)
WHAT’S NEXT
Baylor baseball (19-23) will return to Waco for a midweek matchup against UT Arlington (18-25) on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at Baylor Ballpark.