Preview: Baylor Welcomes Gonzaga to Waco for Weekend Series

WACO, Texas – Baylor baseball (4-0) continues its eight-game homestand with a weekend series against the Gonzaga Bulldogs (1-2) at Baylor Ballpark. The first pitch on Friday is scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday’s contest will start at 2 p.m., and the series finale on Sunday is slated for noon. All three games will be streamed on ESPN+.

Baylor Bears

2025 Record: 4-0

Head Coach: Mitch Thompson

• Career Record: 417-202 (12th season) 
• Record at Baylor: 45-64 (3rd season) 

2025 Projections

• D1Baseball: 12th in the Big 12
• Coaches Poll: 13th in the Big 12

Gonzaga Bulldogs

2025 Record: 1-2

Head Coach: Mark Machtolf

• Career Record: 596-499 (22nd season) 
• Record at Gonzaga: 596-499 (22nd season) 

2025 Projections

• D1Baseball: 3rd in the West Coast Conference
• Coaches Poll: 3rd in the West Coast Conference

Projected Starting Lineup

• 2B: Jack Little (RSo.): (.500 BAVG, .524 OB%, 20 AB, 9 R, 3 XBH, 5 RBI)
• RF: Enzo Apodaca (RSr.): (.400 BAVG, .550 OB%, 15 AB, 8 R, 2 XBH, 6 RBI)
• LF: Wesley Jordan (Sr.): (.563 BAVG, .632 OB%, 16 AB, 4 R, 4 XBH, 8 RBI)
• DH: Hunter Simmons (RSr.): (.600 BAVG, .684 OB%, 15 AB, 3 R, 2 XBH, 5 RBI)
• 1B: Gavin Brzozowski (RJr.): (.222 BAVG, .462 OB%, 9 AB, 3 R, 5 XBH, RBI)
• CF Ty Johnson (Sr.): (.357 BAVG, .500 OB%, 14 AB, 4 R, XBH, 6 RBI)
• 3B: Hunter Teplanszky (Sr.): (.167 BAVG, .167 OB%, 6 AB, RBI)
• C: Cortlan Castle (Sr.): (.167 BAVG, .444 OB%, 6 AB, R, RBI)
• SS: Tyriq Kemp (Sr.): (.500 BAVG, .588 OB%, 14 AB, 6 R, 3 XBH, 2 RBI)

Projected Bench

• C: Brayden Buchanan (So.): (N/A)
• C: JJ Kennett (So.): (.375 BAVG, .375 OB%, 8 AB, 2 R, 3 RBI)
• INF: Travis Sanders (RSo.): (.000 BAVG, .167 OB%, 5 AB, 2 R)
• INF: Will Pendergrass (RSr.): (.000 BAVG, .000 OB%, 6 AB)
• INF: Pearson Riebock (Fr.): (.500 BAVG, .600 OB%, 4 AB, R, 2 XBH, RBI)
• OF: Caleb Bergman (Jr.): (N/A)

*2025 Stats: (BAVG = Batting Average, OB% = On-Base Percentage, AB = At-Bats, R = Runs, XBH = Extra Base Hits, RBI = Runs Batted In)*

Probable Starting Pitchers

• BU SP 1 – LHP: Ethan Calder (Jr.); (1-0, 1.80 ERA, 0.60 WHIP, 5 IP, GS)
• GU SP 1 – RHP Payton Graham (Jr.); (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, 5 IP, GS)
• BU SP 2 – LHP: Bryson Bales (6Sr.); (1-0, 4.50 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 4 IP, GS)
• GU SP 2 – LHP Miles Gosztola (So.); (0-1, 3.86 ERA, 1.71 WHIP, 4.2 IP, GS)
• BU SP 3 – RHP: Cole Stasio (RSr.); (1-0, 4.50 ERA, 1.75 WHIP, 4 IP, GS)
• GU SP 3 – RHP Justin Feld (Jr.); (0-1, 9.82 ERA, 2.18 WHIP, 3.2 IP, GS)

*2025 Stats: (ERA = Earned Run Average, WHIP = Walks + Hits per Inning Pitched, GS = Games Started)*

Top Quotes

Head coach Mitch Thompson on the early season success:

• “I think we’ve played with a lot of freedom so far. The guys are playing hard and expecting to win and compete well. It’s been fun to watch that.”

Head coach Mitch Thompson on the “business-like” approach of his team:

• “There’s leadership. There’s culture and a hunger to perform and play and continue. We had a lot of fun last weekend, and Tuesday was another opportunity to get out there and get going. I think [Tueday’s win] shows that we have a veteran club that’s been through some wars before. They didn’t let the weather affect us. We’ll have to be tough this weekend; Friday and Saturday are going to be cold. It’s not going to be great conditions, but we’re going to play. We’re going to get this on, wear enough clothes and get warm when we’re in the dugout, but go out and compete when we’re out there on the field.”

Left-handed pitcher Bryson Bales (6Sr.) on how much pitching coach Sean Snedeker has helped him:

• “A ton. He’s so detail-oriented. He pitches to all of our strengths. Even if the hitter is really good at our strengths, we’re going to challenge that hitter, and he’s going to play off what we do best. He’s really good in the details, running game and all of that.”

Right fielder Enzo Apodaca (RSr.) on playing against his former school, Gonzaga:

• “They’re going to be ready for the cold. I respect that program a lot, coming from there. I know they are blue-collar and gritty. I expect them to play their best as well. They are a great program, and I still have a ton of respect for the guys over there and the coaches; I’m excited to see everyone.”

Right fielder Enzo Apodaca (RSr.) on the team starting the season with four consecutive wins:

• “Starting off the season hot is a big boost to our confidence, knowing that we have so much depth in our rotation and in the lineup. We’re looking to keep it going and keep that momentum shift all the way into conference [play] and the whole year. We’re in a good spot right now.”