Bats Struggle as Bears Drop Series Opener to Oklahoma State, 7-2

WACO, Texas – Baylor baseball (30-19, 10-15) fell, 7-2, to Oklahoma State (23-21, 11-11) on Friday evening at Baylor Ballpark, dropping the Bears to 2-7 in series openers during conference play.

Shortstop Tyriq Kemp (Sr.) and right fielder Enzo Apodaca (RSr.) combined for five of Baylor’s eight hits. In recent weeks, the two seniors have been the Bears' most reliable batters, with Apodaca boasting a team-high 16-game hitting streak and Kemp having a team-high 25-game on-base streak.

The problem, however, was that Baylor’s lineup was 5-for-20 (.250) with runners on and 1-for-11 (.091)  with runners in scoring position. Despite getting the leadoff runner aboard in five of the first seven innings, the Bears mustered just two runs.

“Their hitters definitely did a little more damage than our guys were able to do tonight, and their pitchers did a little bit better job than our pitchers did; I think they just beat us,” head coach Mitch Thompson said post-game.

The Bears had early opportunities to get on the board, yet came away empty-handed. Catcher Cortlan Castle (Sr.) had a leadoff double in the third inning, but second baseman Travis Sanders (RSo.) struck out with Castle on third base and one out. Sanders is 2-for-21 with 14 punchouts at the plate in May.

Friday’s starter, left-handed pitcher Mason Green (So.), tossed three scoreless frames before being chased out of the game in the fourth inning following a three-spot from the Cowboys.

Green walked the leadoff batter and surrendered a single to first baseman Colin Brueggemann (Sr.) that deflected off Sanders' glove to put runners on the corners with no outs.

Following an RBI groundout, center fielder Kollin Ritchie (So.) poked a weak double just over the third base bag to plate a run. Green was pulled after giving up another base knock that bounced past first baseman Will Pendergrass (RSr.).

Green threw 66 pitches and faced 17 batters, allowing six base runners to reach, four of which came in the fourth inning. The sophomore southpaw’s earned run average sits at 6.08 on the season.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Bears responded with a leadoff walk from left fielder Wesley Jordan (Sr.) and a double from third baseman Pearson Riebock (Fr.) to put runners on second and third with one out.

Baylor was able to scrape one run across on a Pendergrass RBI groundout to shortstop. Through the first four frames, the Bears left five runners on base and were 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position and 2-for-11 with runners on.

It was the only run the Bears picked up against Oklahoma State’s starting pitcher, Harrison Bodendorf (Jr.), who tossed six innings and struck out seven.

“I think our hitters have to make better adjustments, especially early against their guy,” Thompson said. “He’s tough. He has a really good changeup. It’s a really good pitch — we know that. You can’t let him go through the lineup the second time and have it look similar to the first time. We have to make some adjustments.”

Second baseman Brayden Smith (Jr.) added a solo shot, his eighth of the season, off right-handed pitcher Lucas Davenport (RSo.) to extend Oklahoma State’s lead to 4-1 in the fifth inning; it was the lone run allowed by Davenport across 2.2 frames.

The Bears had another golden opportunity to cut into the Pokes’ lead with runners on the corners and one out in the fifth inning, but Jordan grounded into a double play to end the frame. Baylor added a run in the seventh inning on an RBI sacrifice fly from Sanders, but left two more runners stranded.

The Pokes put the game out of reach with a run in each of the last three innings. Eight of Oklahoma State’s 11 hits on Friday were for extra bases, a team-high in conference play.

Final: Oklahoma State 7, Baylor 2

W: Harrison Bodendorf (9-1) L: Mason Green (0-2)

POTG: Tyriq Kemp (3-for-4)

WHAT’S NEXT

The Bears (30-19, 10-15) will continue their series against Oklahoma State (23-21, 11-11) at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Baylor Ballpark. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.