Jordan Homers as Baylor Drops Narrow Contest to No. 8 Oregon State, 4-3
ARLINGTON, Texas – Baylor baseball (7-2) dropped a competitive contest, 4-3, to No. 8 Oregon State (6-2) in the Amegy College Baseball Series opener on Friday night at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
In the loss, Baylor’s pitching staff combined for seven strikeouts and held the talented Oregon State lineup to five hits while issuing just one free pass. Left fielder Wesley Jordan (Sr.) mashed a home run in the defeat, and third baseman Pearson Riebock (Fr.) had his first career long ball robbed on a spectacular catch in the eighth inning.
“I thought we played well,” head coach Mitch Thompson said post-game. “I thought we pitched well. I thought we competed really well at the plate. That was their three best [pitchers] and two best guys out of the bullpen. We took some pretty good swings at them, but they made most of the plays.”
Left-handed pitcher Ethan Calder (Jr.) uncharacteristically struggled to open the game and took 25 pitches to make it through the first inning. Twice, Calder had an Oregon State batter down 0-2 in the count, but the Beavers got a hit both times, including a two-run single from left fielder Gavin Turley (Jr.).
“The game was a little fast early, but Ethan really settled in and pitched well,” Thompson said. “That’s a top-10 team in the country with big, physical and strong dudes; when you make a mistake, they can hurt it and punish you.”
Oregon State’s starting pitcher, Nelson Keljo (Jr.), retired seven consecutive batters to start the contest and didn’t surrender a base knock until the fourth inning when right fielder Enzo Apodaca (RSr.) poked a single through the right side.
The following at-bat, Jordan crushed a fastball on the outside corner 445 feet into the second deck of the left field stands to tie the game at two apiece; it was Jordan’s second long ball of the season.
Oregon State regained the lead, 3-2, in the bottom of the fourth inning when first baseman Jacob Krieg (Jr.) smoked a solo shot over the left field wall for his team-high fourth home run of the spring. Krieg finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
In the fifth inning, the Bears were in business after back-to-back two-out walks, but Apodaca grounded out to second base on a 3-1 count to end the frame. Baylor left five runners on base in the loss compared to Oregon State’s two.
Calder returned for the sixth inning and surrendered a one-out double before getting pulled in favor of righty Grayson Murry (Jr.). The Beavers later plated the run on a two-out RBI single from Krieg to extend their lead to 4-2.
After a rough first inning, Calder settled in and retired 15 of the final 17 batters he faced. He fanned four while allowing four earned runs and four hits on 85 pitches.
In the seventh inning, Riebock lined what appeared to be a surefire home run into the right field bullpen before Oregon State’s Easton Talt (Jr.) came flying out of nowhere and made a spectacular snow-cone grab to rob Riebock of his first career long ball.
“You’re bummed out for a second, but you have to flush it, and then it’s next better,” Jordan said of Oregon State’s potential game-saving catch. “You can’t dwell on it for too long.”
Later in the frame, shortstop Tyriq Kemp (Sr.) reached on an error, and second baseman Jack Little (RSo.) scored him with an RBI single into right field to trim Oregon State’s lead, 4-3.
“They stole one from us going over the outfield fence, but they gave us one back, so it kind of worked out even-Steven,” Thompson said. “They are a really good ballclub and play the game really sound.”
Murry and veteran righty Will Glatch (Sr.) combined for 2.2 scoreless innings out of the bullpen to keep the game within reach, but Baylor went three up, three down in the bottom of the ninth.
Final: No. 8 Oregon State 4, Baylor 3
W: Eric Segura (3-0) L: Ethan Calder (2-1) S: Matthew Morrell (1)
POTG: Wesley Jordan (1-for-4, HR, R, 2 RBI)
WHAT’S NEXT
The Bears (7-2) will resume play at 2 p.m. on Saturday against Ohio State (1-6), and Sunday’s finale is scheduled for 3 p.m. against No. 25 Auburn (9-1). All games will be streamed on Flo College.