Bears Can’t Complete Comeback, Drop Series to Arizona State and Lose in Finale, 8-6

WACO, Texas – Baylor baseball (29-18, 10-14) dropped its series to Arizona State (32-17, 16-8) after losing back-to-back contests, including an 8-6 defeat in the finale on Sunday afternoon at Baylor Ballpark.

With the Bears trailing 3-2 in the seventh inning, the Sun Devils' leadoff batter reached on an error, sparking an implosion where Arizona State scored five runs in the frame, four of which came with two outs. Baylor finished the contest with two errors, and three of ASU’s eight runs were unearned in the series finale.

Baylor’s batting order battled back late; however, the deficit was too large to overcome. The Bears had opportunities throughout the afternoon but went 4-for-18 with runners in scoring position and struck out 11 times. Baylor’s lineup combined for 36 punchouts over the course of the weekend, a season-high in a three-game series.

Third baseman Pearson Riebock (Fr.) went 3-for-4 with two RBIs, and left fielder Gavin Brzozowski (RSo.) went 2-for-2 with a double, a home run and a team-high three RBIs.

“I’m glad our guys kept going, but it is what it is,” head coach Mitch Thompson said post-game. “When we let that game get away, we made it very difficult for us to have any chance to come back. We had a chance, but it was very difficult.”

Right fielder Enzo Apodaca (RSr.) led off the bottom of the first with a double, and Wesley Jordan (Sr.) plated the run on an RBI single up the middle to give the Bears a 1-0 lead.

The Sun Devils responded and added two runs in the second inning courtesy of RBI base knocks from designated hitter Brandon Compton (So.) and center fielder Isaiah Jackson (Jr.).

In the fourth inning, the Bears had the bases juiced with two outs, but second baseman Travis Sanders (RSo.) struck out looking to end the frame. Baylor’s batting order left seven runners on base across the first four innings and 13 overall compared to Arizona State’s seven.

“We have to be better,” Thompson said. “Some of our best hitters had really tough weekends, and we will go to work to get better.”

In the top of the fifth, the Sun Devils chased left-handed pitcher Ethan Calder (Jr.) out of the contest after the leadoff batter reached on what appeared to be a routine grounder to second base. 

Instead, first baseman Jack Little (RSo.) rushed too far over to try and field the grounder and didn’t get back to cover first base. When Sanders tried to make the toss to first base, Little wasn’t looking and allowed Jackson to reach second base.

The run later scored on an RBI single off right-handed reliever Lucas Davenport (RSo.). Calder exited after allowing three runs, only two of which were earned, and six hits on 58 pitches across four innings.

The Bears closed Arizona State’s lead to 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth when shortstop Tyriq Kemp (Sr.) crushed a double into the right field corner to lead off the frame. Riebock drove Kemp home with an RBI sacrifice fly to center field.

The Bears saw things unravel in the seventh inning when the leadoff batter reached on a throwing error from Riebock at third base. With two outs, Davenport was pulled in favor of lefty RJ Ruais (So.), who walked back-to-back batters to load the bases.

Right-handed pitcher Grayson Murry (Jr.) entered to get Baylor out of the jam and was up 0-2 in the count against ASU’s slugging catcher before Josiah Cromwick (Sr.) smoked a bases-clearing double off the left field wall.

“I’m disappointed the game got away from us there in the seventh inning,” Thompson said. “We were one pitch away from getting out of it with just a run, so that’s disappointing we couldn’t do that.”

The Sun Devils took an 8-2 lead going into the bottom of the seventh, but Brzozowski added a solo shot, his second of the season, to keep things interesting. 

In the eighth, Brzozowski came through again, this time with a two-run double with the bases loaded. Riebock added an RBI single to cut Arizona State’s lead to 8-6.

“Gavin came in and he swung the bat with a little authority there, which was good,” Thompson said. “He handled himself well — no question.”

With runners on the corners and two outs, catcher Cortlan Castle (Sr.) lined out to shortstop to end the frame. In the ninth, the Bears went down in order.

 

Final: Arizona State 8, Baylor 6

W: Derek Schaefer (6-2) L: Ethan Calder (3-5)

POTG: Gavin Brzozowski (2-for-2, R, HR, 2B, 3 RBI)

WHAT’S NEXT

The Bears (29-18) will continue their homestand against UT Rio Grande Valley (32-15) on Tuesday, May 6, at 6:30 p.m. at Baylor Ballpark. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.