Bears Fall on Senior Day, Lose Series to Oklahoma State with 4-0 Defeat

WACO, Texas – Baylor baseball (30-20, 10-16) dropped its third straight conference series with a 4-0 shutout loss to Oklahoma State (24-21, 12-11) on Senior Day on Saturday afternoon at Baylor Ballpark.

Left-handed pitcher Ethan Calder (Jr.) started on the bump for the Bears and delivered his second quality start of conference play, surrendering just two earned runs and four hits across six innings while tying a season-high in conference play with six punchouts.

The batting order, however, gave Calder no run support throughout the contest and mustered just four hits, all of which came across the first three innings. The Bears went 1-for-12 (.083) with runners on, 0-for-3 (.000) with runners in scoring position and grounded into three double plays; it was the first time Baylor was shut out this season.

“Our pitchers threw well enough to win, but our offense did not compete well enough to get it done and win,” head coach Mitch Thompson said post-game. “[Calder] really settled in and competed his tail off. He had three pitches for strikes. I’m disappointed we couldn’t get back in the game for him.”

The Pokes jumped out to an early lead on a two-run home run from right fielder Nolan Schubart (Jr.) in the top of the first inning. The Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year has 14 long balls on the season and two this weekend.

After going 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position in Friday’s series opener, Baylor’s offensive woes continued into Saturday with designated hitter Hunter Simmons (RSr.) striking out with the bases loaded to end the first inning.

The Bears were threatening again in the second inning, with runners on first and second with two outs, but second baseman Travis Sanders (RSo.) went down swinging to close the frame.

Simmons and Sanders are a combined 3-for-46 at the plate with 26 strikeouts in May.

Oklahoma State’s starting pitcher, Mario Pesca (Jr.), found his groove and limited Baylor’s batting order to four base knocks before being pulled after a season-high eight frames. Pesca issued six free passes, but the Bears were unable to make him pay at any point.

“It’s incredibly frustrating,” Thompson said. “I’m frustrated. I think the hitters are frustrated. Again, we didn’t make enough adjustments. We have to do something differently. You can’t just keep rolling through inning after inning without making an adjustment. I give their guy credit. He kept rolling up ground balls, and they kept making plays for him; it was a pretty easy day for them.”

Baylor had one final chance to make things interesting with a runner on second and two outs in the eighth inning, but left fielder Wesley Jordan (Sr.) struck out looking.

Veteran reliever Caleb Bunch (Sr.) tossed two scoreless frames out of the bullpen for the Bears before surrendering a solo shot to center fielder Kollin Ritchie (So.) in the ninth to extend Oklahoma State’s lead to 3-0. The Pokes added another insurance run following an error.

Final: Oklahoma State 4, Baylor 0

W: Mario Pesca (5-2) L: Ethan Calder (3-6)

POTG: Ethan Calder (6 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 R, BB, 6 K, HP, 23 BF, 91 TP, 62 ST)

WHAT’S NEXT

The Bears (30-20, 10-16) will finish their series against Oklahoma State (24-21, 12-11) at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Baylor Ballpark. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.