Baylor Baseball Drops Saturday Doubleheader, Gets Swept by No. 18 Oklahoma

NORMAN, Okla. – Baylor baseball (21-29, 9-18) extended its conference losing streak to 11 games with back-to-back losses to No. 18 Oklahoma (32-17, 21-6) Saturday at L. Dale Mitchell Park.

Due to inclement weather, the Bears played a doubleheader and were outscored 28-to-8 in the two defeats. In the earlier game, Baylor lost 9-1 despite a solid performance on the mound from left-handed pitcher Ethan Calder (So.). In the series finale, Baylor was run-ruled for the fourth time this season and lost 19-7 in seven innings.

If Texas Tech (30-22, 12-17) salvages its series against No. 19 Oklahoma State (34-16, 17-9) with a win on Sunday, the Bears will officially miss the Big 12 Tournament for the second consecutive season.

Game 2 of the Series

Like the series opener, the Bears jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning when second baseman Daniel Altman (Sr.) roped an RBI double into right field to score center fielder Ty Johnson (Jr.).

Baylor Athletics

Baylor was outscored 47-to-15 in the series against No. 18 Oklahoma.

Baylor’s batting order had various opportunities to do more damage in the ballgame but went 2-for-12 with runners on and 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position. It was the fifth time in conference play that the Bears were held to one run or less.

With runners on the corners and one out in the fifth, Calder was called for a questionable balk that tied the game at one apiece much to the dismay of head coach Mitch Thompson. On the following pitch, right fielder Bryce Madron (RSr.) lined an RBI single into right field to give the Sooners their first lead of the day, 2-1.

In the sixth, shortstop Anthony Mackenzie (Sr.) appeared to ground into a 4-6-3 double play but was ruled safe at first base and the call wasn’t reviewed. Calder then allowed a double to second baseman Jackson Nicklaus (Jr.) and was pulled in favor of veteran right-handed pitcher Patrick Hail (RJr.).

With one out and runners on second and third, Hail couldn’t mitigate the damage and allowed three runs to come across to extend Oklahoma’s lead to 5-1. After four scoreless frames, Calder ended the contest with four earned runs and six hits across 5.1 innings of work on his ledger.

The game got out of reach when Hail allowed a glad slam to center fielder John Spikerman (Jr.) in the eighth inning. All nine of the Sooners' runs came unanswered.

Final: No. 18 Oklahoma 9, Baylor 1

W: Kyson Witherspoon (6-3) L: Ethan Calder (4-3)

POTG: Ty Johnson (2-for-4, 2B, R)

Game 3 of the Series

For the third consecutive game in the series, the Bears scored in the first inning. Catcher Cortlan Castle (Jr.) got Baylor on the board with an RBI double down the left-field line. Later in the frame with the bases loaded, Altman skied an RBI sacrifice fly to right field.

In the second, Baylor added three more runs, highlighted by a solo shot from third baseman Hunter Teplanszky (Jr.) for his fifth home run of the season.

Baylor Athletics

CF Ty Johnson (Jr.) was one of the few bright spots from the weekend. He went 6-for-13 at the plate in the three-game set with three doubles.

What was once a 5-1 lead quickly dissipated in the bottom of the second after a costly, two-out throwing error from shortstop Tyriq Kemp (Jr.) that extended the frame. After the miscue, the Sooners plated five more runs off right-handed pitcher Collin McKinney (RFr.)

McKinney’s evening was finished after allowing seven runs – two earned – and six hits in 1.2 innings. Oklahoma’s offensive onslaught continued in the middle frames with six spots in the fourth and fifth innings.

The top of the Sooners lineup – Spikerman, Madron, Easton Carmichael (So.) and Michael Snyder (RSr.) – combined to go 12-for-19 at the plate with nine RBIs and five extra-base hits in the series finale.

After a Castle RBI sacrifice fly and an RBI single from designated hitter Harrison Caley (Sr.) in the top of the fourth, Oklahoma scored 12 unanswered runs to clinch the sweep and force a seven-inning run rule.
 

Final (7 innings): No. 18 Oklahoma 19, Baylor 7

W: Carson Atwood (1-0) L: Tanner Duke (1-3)

POTG: Cortlan Castle (2-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI)