Sanders, Kemp Homer as Baylor Routes Houston Christian, 9-1, in Midweek Matchup

WACO, Texas – Baylor baseball (26-14) improved to 8-1 in midweek contests with a 9-1 routing of Houston Christian (22-17) on Tuesday evening at Baylor Ballpark.

Second baseman Travis Sanders (RSo.) continued his hot streak, going 3-for-4 with a solo home run and scoring three runs. Designated hitter Hunter Simmons (RSr.) picked up his team-high 17th multi-hit game of the season with a 4-for-4 performance.

The Bears broke the game open with a six-spot in the seventh inning, highlighted by a 393-foot solo home run to right field from shortstop Tyriq Kemp (Sr.). Kemp and Sanders have combined for six homers across their last three games. Baylor finished with 13 hits in the victory.

“It’s huge coming off that win against Utah, especially with how we’ve been playing these last couple of weeks,” Simmons said. “It’s a huge confidence boost and’ll get us rolling again. We’re in the right direction with a lot of hits, a lot of runs and a lot of good pitching.”

Six different Baylor arms combined to punch out 11 Huskies and allowed just five hits. The Bears didn’t issue a single free pass for the third time this season, which improves Baylor’s record to 17-3 when the pitching staff allows two or fewer walks. The Bears also didn’t record an error.

Baylor Athletics - Jack Compton

Six different Baylor arms combined to punch out 11 Huskies and allowed just five hits.

“Complete team win,” head coach Mitch Thompson said post-game. “That’s three in a row good ones, so it’s good to see.”

Sanders led off the bottom of the second with a line drive single into right-center field. Simmons later singled, and a throwing error put both runners in scoring position with one out.

Center fielder Ty Johnson (Sr.) plated Sanders with a perfect sacrifice bunt down the first base line, where he almost beat the tag. Sanders is 21-for-49 (.429) at the plate with seven RBIs and nine extra-base hits across 13 games in April.

Left-handed pitcher Caleb Jameson (RSo.) started on the bump for the Bears and went a season-long 2.2 innings. He didn’t surrender an earned run and struck out one on 32 pitches.

With right-handed pitcher Cole Stasio (RSr.) on the mound in the fourth inning, Houston Christian tied the game at one apiece on a two-out solo shot from catcher Luke Bard (Jr.), his third homer of the season. Stasio rebounded and tied a career-high with four punchouts across two frames.

The Bears jumped back out in front in the bottom of the fourth on a 418-foot solo home run over the left-center field wall from Sanders, his third homer across his previous four at-bats, dating back to Saturday’s contest against Utah, and fifth of the season.

Aside from Sanders and Simmons, the Bears had little success against Houston Christian’s left-handed starting pitcher, Jacob Cyr (Jr.). Cyr pitched a season-long five innings, allowing two earned runs and striking out three on 62 pitches, 45 of which were strikes.

Right-handed pitcher Hunter Teplanszky (Sr.) made his third appearance on the mound for the Bears this season and tossed 1.1 scoreless frames, hitting 97 miles per hour on his fastball. He has yet to allow a hit this spring.

“I get very amped to see him pitch,” Simmons said of Teplanszky. “The guy has always had an electric arm, and now seeing it on the bump and doing the same as other pitchers is good for his confidence. I love watching him.”

With Cyr out of the ballgame in the bottom of the sixth, the bottom of Baylor’s batting order drew three straight free passes, highlighted by a bases-loaded walk to catcher Cortlan Castle (Sr.). Castle finished the contest 2-for-3 with two RBIs.

The bases remained loaded for the top of the order, but Enzo Apodaca (RSr.) flew out to the center field warning track to end the inning. The Bears went 4-for-10 with runners in scoring position on Tuesday.

Houston Christian right fielder Rhett Hendricks (Jr.) roped a single into left field on the first pitch he saw from veteran righty Grayson Murry (Jr.) in the seventh inning. Murry worked around the leadoff base knock by striking out the side to keep the Huskies at bay; his earned run average sits at 1.93 on the season, and he’s totaled 10 scoreless outings.

The Bears broke the game open in the bottom of the seventh with a six-spot. Kemp launched a long ball over the right field wall into the Brazos River, third baseman Pearson Riebock (Fr.) delivered an RBI single to center field and a throwing error cost the Huskies two more runs. Castle and Apodaca also collected run-scoring base knocks in the frame.

Pinch-hitting for Riebock in the eighth inning, John Youens (RFr.) doubled to right field for his first collegiate hit.

Relievers Will Glatch (Sr.) and Gabe Craig (RSr.) combined to record the final six outs and didn’t allow a base runner.

Final: Baylor 9, Houston Christian 1

W: Cole Stasio (2-1) L: Jacob Cyr (1-1)

POTG: Travis Sanders (3-4, 3 R, HR, RBI)

WHAT’S NEXT

The Bears (26-14, 8-10) will travel to Fort Worth this weekend and open their series against rival TCU (29-12, 12-6) on Friday, April 25, at 6 p.m. at Lupton Stadium. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.