WACO, Texas – Baylor baseball (20-9, 4-6) blew a late three-run lead and fell 7-4 to the Houston Cougars (17-12, 4-6) in the series opener on a rainy Friday night at Baylor Ballpark.
Leading 4-1 going into the top of the eighth inning, the Bears' two most reliable relievers — Will Glatch (Sr.) and Gabe Craig (RSr.) — struggled mightily, combining to issue two hits, three free passes and five runs, only one of which was earned after a fielding error on third baseman Pearson Riebock (Fr.).
“We haven’t had one like that this year,” head coach Mitch Thompson said post-game. “That’s a tough one to swallow. Give Houston credit — they did enough, laid off pitches and took advantage of our mistakes.”
Before Friday, Baylor was 19-0 when leading after six innings. The Bears were outhit by the Cougars, 8-to-5, left seven runners on base and went 3-for-16 with runners on.
Baylor wasted a quality start from left-handed pitcher Ethan Calder (Jr.), who struck out four and surrendered just one run in five innings.
“This one hurts. We feel like we had the game in pretty good hands, and then all of a sudden, we didn’t,” Thompson said. “Now we’re punched and we have to respond. There’s no question about that. Houston stayed in the game, and they had an opportunity and took advantage.”
Facing Houston’s starting pitcher, 6-foot-8 Paul Schmitz (Jr.), 5-foot-7 shortstop Tyriq Kemp (Sr.) continued his hot streak and extended his hit streak to five games with a one-out single up the middle in the second inning.
Later in the frame, center fielder Ty Johnson (Sr.) earned a hard-fought walk following a nine-pitch at-bat; Johnson missed back-to-back contests after getting hit on the hand by a pitch last Saturday against No. 23 Arizona.
Catcher JJ Kennett (So.) plated Kemp with an RBI sacrifice fly to center field and Enzo Apodaca (RSr.) and Wesley Jordan (Sr.) delivered back-to-back run-scoring singles to give Baylor an early 3-0 lead.
With two runners aboard in the top of the third, Johnson made a spectacular diving grab in center field to keep the Cougars off the board. Johnson finished the game reaching base in two of his four plate appearances.
Houston scored its first run in the fifth inning on an RBI infield single from catcher Riley Jackson (So.). Calder’s evening was over after five innings, allowing just one earned run on 81 total pitches.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Bears had runners on second and third base with one out, but came away with no runs; Jordan was tagged out at home to end the frame. Baylor left seven runners on base in the contest and went 3-for-12 with runners in scoring position.
“I’m disappointed we didn’t score more,” Thompson said. “We had opportunities to score, and we didn’t do it enough. We had opportunities to open the game up, and we missed several of them. Overall, we have to play better. It’s a team win or it’s a team loss, and that’s for sure a team loss.”
Facing a similar situation in the seventh inning, Hunter Simmons (Sr.) struck out, but Riebock plated the run on an RBI infield single — his 17th RBI of the season.
Schmitz, Houston’s starting pitcher, exited the ballgame after 6.1 frames and 98 pitches; he struck out six and allowed four hits and four runs, only one of which was earned.
Glatch entered in relief and couldn’t make it out of the eighth inning. After a leadoff single and a fielding error from Riebock, Glatch doubled his walk total on the season (2) and issued two free bases, allowing Houston to cut into Baylor’s lead, 4-2.
With the bases loaded and out, Craig couldn’t get out of the jam, and the Cougars eventually took a 6-4 lead following a hit by pitch, a wild pitch and a two-run single. Houston added a run in the ninth inning off veteran righty Andrew Petrowski (RSr.).
“They’ve had great years and they’ll continue to have great years, but tonight is one of those stinky sandwiches,” Thompson said of Glatch and Craig. “It is what it is, and you have to deal with it. They’re disappointed. Ain’t no one more disappointed than they are. We’re disappointed.”
Houston’s top bullpen arm, lefty Antoine Jean (Sr.), retired all six Baylor batters he faced across the final two innings, punching out five of them.
Final: Houston 7, Baylor 4
W: Grayson Drezek (3-2) L: Will Glatch (3-1) S: Antoine Jean (2)
POTG: Ethan Calder (5 IP, 4 H, ER, R, 2 BB, 4 K, 21 BF, 81 TP, 50 ST)
WHAT’S NEXT
The Bears (20-9, 4-6) will continue their series against the Houston Cougars (17-12, 4-6) on Saturday, April 5, at 2 p.m. at Baylor Ballpark. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
