Bears Can’t Limit High-Powered Kansas Lineup, Lose Series and Fall 14-7

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Baylor baseball (13-5, 0-2) dropped its second straight game to open conference play, 14-7, to Kansas (17-2, 2-0) on Saturday afternoon at Hoglund Ballpark.

An eight-run third inning helped power the Jayhawks past the Bears, and Kansas out-hit Baylor, 16-to-12, in the contest and collected six home runs.

Designated hitter Hunter Simmons (RSr.) carried Baylor’s batting order, tying a career-high in RBIs (4) with a 2-for-5 performance at the plate, highlighted by a two-run homer in the fourth inning.

“I’m disappointed we didn’t pitch better,” head coach Mitch Thompson told ESPN Central Texas after the loss. “We have to pitch better and keep the ball in the ballpark. We can’t be walking seven or eight guys a game and think that’s going to work. First hiccups of the year, and there were definitely some hiccups out there.”

Left-handed pitcher Bryson Bales (6Sr.) struggled mightily against the high-powered Jayhawks’ lineup and allowed eight hits, eight earned runs and three walks on just 2.2 innings pitched.

“We couldn’t Bryson out fast enough,” Thompson said. “We kind of expected him to get that second and third out, and it didn’t happen there. He didn’t have his good stuff, left stuff up and they hit it hard. It was a frustrating inning that led to a frustrating day.”

Following a two-run homer from Simmons in the fourth, the Bears had a chance for a big inning, but a pair of outstanding defensive plays from Kansas took away at least two runs and potentially more.

Simmons collected another RBI in the next frame with a single up the middle; Simmons boasts a team-high 10-game hitting streak.

Baylor had another chance in the sixth inning to chip into the Jayhawks lead with the bases loaded and one out but could not plate a run. The Bears left 11 total runners on base in the loss.

“We had some opportunities with a couple of guys on and the right guys at the plate, but we couldn’t get the big hits there that would give us a chance,” Thompson said. “With the wind blowing the way it was, you never had enough, and you were never out of it.”

After surrendering a three-spot in the fourth inning, right-handed pitcher Lucas Davenport (RSo.) settled in, tossed two scoreless frames and struck out two.

Kansas designated hitter Jackson Hauge (Sr.) smoked his second home run of the day to extend the Jayhawks lead to 13-4 in the seventh inning. Hauge finished with a team-high four RBIs.

Shortstop Tyriq Kemp (Sr.) clobbered a two-run homer in the eighth inning for his second long ball of the season. Second baseman Travis Sanders (RSo.) added a solo shot in the ninth inning.

Final: Kansas 14, Baylor 7

W: Connor Maggi (3-0) L: Bryson Bales (3-2)

POTG: Hunter Simmons (2-5, HR, 4 RBI, R)

WHAT’S NEXT

The Bears (13-5, 0-2) will look to salvage their series against the Kansas Jayhawks (17-2, 2-0) at 1 p.m. on Sunday at Hoglund Ballpark. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.