Bailey and Bunch Help Bears Even Series against Houston with 4-3 Victory

WACO, Texas – Baylor baseball (21-9, 5-6) evened up its series against the Houston Cougars (17-13, 4-7) with a narrow 4-3 win on a cold and windy Saturday afternoon at Baylor Ballpark.

Left-handed pitcher Carson Bailey (Fr.) tossed a quality outing, striking out six and allowing just two hits across six innings. Veteran righty Caleb Bunch (Sr.) closed the contest with three scoreless frames and four punch-outs.

With runners on the corners and two outs in the eighth inning, third baseman Pearson Riebock (Fr.) delivered the go-ahead RBI single, just past the reach of the outstretched Houston shortstop’s glove.

“It was tough because I don’t think we played exceptionally well,” head coach Mitch Thompson said post-game. “I thought we pitched well. I thought Carson pitched well, and to go six innings was good. I thought Bunch was fantastic in his three innings; he was a real change of speed from what they’re seeing off of Carson.” 

Despite outhitting Houston, 8-to-3, the Bears were 5-for-21 with runners on and 3-for-14 with runners in scoring position. Baylor was also 0-for-3 with the bases loaded and 0-for-3 with runners on third base with less than two outs.

“Obviously, we’re not swinging the bat up and well down the lineup and having tremendous at-bats when we have opportunities to score,” Thompson said. “I’m giving Houston credit at that, but I think we’re better than what we’ve shown. I think we can swing the bats better. I’m really glad to get the win, but I’m not happy with how we played.”

Baylor Athletics - Jack Compton

Despite outhitting Houston, 8-to-3, the Bears were 5-for-21 with runners on and 3-for-14 with runners in scoring position.

Apodaca led off the bottom of the first inning with a double into right field, his eighth of the season. Later in the frame, shortstop Tyriq Kemp (Sr.) lined a two-out single into right field to score Apodaca and give Baylor a 1-0 first-inning lead.

In the third inning, the Bears added another run on a two-out double from designated hitter Hunter Simmons (RSr.). Simmons has reached base in 36 straight games, dating back to the 2023 season.

With the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the fourth inning, Houston right fielder Evan Haeger (Fr.) hit a dribbler past the pitcher’s mound. After Bailey slid to get the ball, he made an errant throw to first base, clearing the bases and giving the Cougars a 3-2 lead. Bailey totaled three errors on Saturday, and none of the runs were earned.

“Defensively, we made all of the plays except for in that little circle in the middle of the field,” Thompson said. “It’s a combination of little things that end up adding up that get you beat. I’m thankful it didn’t get us beat. Our guys fought and competed.”

Following the critical error, Bailey returned to the mound in the fifth inning and added two more scoreless frames to his ledger.

“That was a big thing. Sometimes something happens, and it snowballs, but Bailey did a really good job today of making sure that didn’t happen and getting right back in it and filling it up,” Bunch said.

Baylor had an opportunity to fight back in the fifth inning with the bases loaded and one out, but came away empty-handed. Castle tied the game in the following inning with an RBI double to left field, but Baylor left the bases juiced once more in the seventh. Castle finished the contest 2-for-4.

To open the top of the ninth inning, Bunch got down 3-0 in the count but bounced back to record the strikeout and retired the side to secure the win.

“The hardest three outs to get are those in the ninth inning to finish the game,” Bunch said. “Going out there and making sure I got that first out was a big thing for me. I’m glad I executed it.”

Final: Baylor 4, Houston 3

W: Caleb Bunch (1-0) L: Grayson Drezek (3-1)

POTG: Carson Bailey (6 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 3 R, 3 BB, 6 K, 25 BF, 86 TP, 53 ST, 3 E)

WHAT’S NEXT

The Bears (21-9, 5-6) will conclude their series against the Houston Cougars (17-13, 4-7) on Sunday, April 6, at 1 p.m. at Baylor Ballpark. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.