Series Preview: Baylor Baseball Faces Major Test This Weekend at Globe Life Field

ARLINGTON, Texas – Baylor (7-1) will open the Amegy Bank College Baseball series this weekend, facing No. 8 Oregon State (5-2) at 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 28 at Globe Life Field. Saturday’s contest against Ohio State (1-5) is slated for 2 p.m. on Saturday, and Sunday’s finale is scheduled for 3 p.m. versus No. 25 Auburn (8-1). All three games will be streamed on Flo College.

Baylor Bears

2025 Record: 7-1

Head Coach: Mitch Thompson

• Career Record: 420-203 (12th season) 
• Record at Baylor: 48-65 (3rd season) 

2025 Projections

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

No. 8 Oregon State Beavers

2025 Record: 5-2

Head Coach: Mitch Canham

• Career Record: 181-89 (6th season) 
• Record at Oregon State: 181-89 (6th season) 

2025 Projections

• D1Baseball: N/A (Independent)
• Coaches Poll: N/A (Independent)

Ohio State Buckeyes

2025 Record: 1-5

Head Coach: Justin Haire

• Career Record: 318-227 (11th season) 
• Record at Ohio State: 1-5 (1st season) 

2025 Projections

• D1Baseball: 11th in the Big Ten
• Coaches Poll: N/A

No. 25 Auburn Tigers

2025 Record: 8-1

Head Coach: Butch Thompson

• Career Record: 291-213 (10th season) 
• Record at Auburn: 291-213 (10th season) 

2025 Projections

• D1Baseball: 10th in the SEC
• Coaches Poll: 12th in the SEC

Baylor Projected Starting Lineup

• 2B: Jack Little (RSo.): (.294 BAVG, .415 OB%, 34 AB, 12 R, 3 XBH, 5 RBI)
• RF: Enzo Apodaca (RSr.): (.357 BAVG, .513 OB%, 28 AB, 10 R, 3 XBH, 10 RBI)
• LF: Wesley Jordan (Sr.): (.452 BAVG, .541 OB%, 31 AB, 5 R, 5 XBH, 10 RBI)
• DH: Hunter Simmons (RSr.): (.464 BAVG, .595 OB%, 28 AB, 5 R, 2 XBH, 7 RBI)
• 1B: Gavin Brzozowski (RSo.): (.188 BAVG, .381 OB%, 16 AB, 6 R, RBI)
• CF Ty Johnson (Sr.): (.321 BAVG, .472 OB%, 28 AB, 7 R, 3 XBH, 9 RBI)
• 3B: Hunter Teplanszky (Sr.): (.167 BAVG, .231 OB%, 12 AB, 2 RBI)
• C: Cortlan Castle (Sr.): (.167 BAVG, .375 OB%, 12 AB, 2 R, RBI)
• SS: Tyriq Kemp (Sr.): (.520 BAVG, .606 OB%, 25 AB, 9 R, 6 XBH, 5 RBI)

Baylor Projected Bench

• C: JJ Kennett (So.): (.375 BAVG, .444 OB%, 16 AB, 3 R, XBH, 6 RBI)
• INF: Travis Sanders (RSo.): (.000 BAVG, .167 OB%, 12 AB, 4 R, RBI)
• INF: Will Pendergrass (RSr.): (.100 BAVG, .091 OB%, 10 AB, RBI)
• INF: Pearson Riebock (Fr.): (.556 BAVG, .636 OB%, 9 AB, 3 R, 2 XBH, 4 RBI)
• C: Brayden Buchanan (So.): (N/A)
• 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.); (2-0, 0.75 ERA, 0.58 WHIP, 12 IP, 2 GS)
• OSU SP 1 – LHP: Nelson Keljo (Jr.); (0-0, 2.25 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 8 IP, 2 GS)
• BU SP 2 – LHP: Bryson Bales (6Sr.); (1-0, 4.50 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 8 IP, 2 GS)
• OSU SP 2 – RHP: Chase Herrell (So.); (0-0, 3.75 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 12 IP, 2 GS)
• BU SP 3 – RHP: Cole Stasio (RSr.); (1-0, 4.50 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 8 IP, 2 GS)
• AU SP 3 – RHP: Christian Chatterton (Fr.); (0-0, 4.66 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 9.2 IP, 2 GS)

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

Top Quotes

Head coach Mitch Thompson on Baylor’s hot start to the season:

• “It’s been a good start. With the first two weeks at home, we’ve gotten our feet underneath us, and we’re getting a little feel for the ballclub and how to use guys — I think it went great. The first two weeks are behind us, and now we have to move forward with a big weekend ahead of us.”

Head coach Mitch Thompson on the level of competition Baylor will face this weekend:

• “All three teams are talented. We’ll get tested for sure. I liken this thing to be like a prelim of a regional tournament. These are four really quality teams from four quality conferences, and it’ll be a lot of fun. … We’ll learn a lot this weekend, and these guys are ready to compete; they are excited.”

Catcher JJ Kennett (So.) on the opportunity to play against great competition in an MLB stadium:

• “It’s a dream come true to get to go to Globe Life with all of the guys and live out that dream playing in that park and really show everybody what Baylor baseball is about this year and show them how we’re coming. I’m super excited.”

Right-handed pitcher Caleb Bunch (Sr.) on the lessons learned from the extra innings loss to Gonzaga last weekend:

• “Those back-and-forth games are really big just because it shows you that if we get hit, we don’t stay down. We come right back at you. I think that’s a good thing for us.”

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