Bears Clinch Big 12 Tournament Berth with Comeback Win over UCF, 5-4

ORLANDO, Florida – Baylor baseball (32-20, 12-16) clinched a Big 12 Tournament berth with a 5-4 comeback win over UCF (28-25, 8-20) on Thursday evening at John Euliano Park, improving the Bears to 3-7 in series openers during conference play.

Trailing by a run with runners on the corners in the ninth inning, catcher Cortlan Castle (Sr.) capped off a multi-hit performance with a game-tying RBI single through the left side. A few pitches later, center fielder Ty Johnson (Sr.) stole third base and scored the winning run following a throwing error from UCF’s catcher, Dylan King (RJr.).

Baylor’s batting order mustered just five base knocks in the victory but took advantage of four UCF errors, with three of the Bears’ five runs coming in the ninth. Shortstop Tyriq Kemp (Sr.) extended his on-base streak to 28 games after reaching base in three of his four plate appearances.

Left-handed pitcher Mason Green (So.) went a season-long five innings and allowed just one earned run and four hits, two of which were infield singles. He struck out two on 53 pitches. Meanwhile, closer Gabe Craig (RSr.) shut the door, earning his 10th save of the season with a perfect final frame.

“I’m proud of the fight of the guys,” head coach Mitch Thompson told the Baylor Sports Media Network post-game. “There was some great competitiveness in this dugout tonight. Bear fans should be proud of this team.”

Baylor got on the board in the top of the first inning when second baseman Travis Sanders (RSo.) tattooed a solo shot off the scoreboard in right field; the long ball was Sanders' seventh home run of the season.

UCF right fielder Andrew Williamson (So.) led off the bottom of the fourth with an infield single to first base. Later in the inning with runners on the corners and two outs, King crushed a game-tying double off the right field wall, but Kemp was able to gun down the potential go-ahead run out at home.

Baylor responded with a run in the fifth inning after designated hitter Hunter Simmons (RSr.) was hit by a pitch to start the frame. A couple of at-bats later, Castle clubbed a double down the left field line, and multiple fielding errors by UCF allowed Simmons to score and give the Bears back the lead, 2-1.

Outside of that, Baylor’s batting order was completely dominated by right-handed reliever Dom Stagliano (Sr.), who surrendered just three hits across 4.2 frames out of the bullpen. He struck out five and didn’t issue a walk.

With right-handed pitcher Lucas Davenport (RSo.) on the mound in the seventh inning, King made the Bears pay again with a game-tying RBI double to center field that barely missed the glove of Johnson. Later in the frame, third baseman Braden Calise (RJr.) gave the Knights their first lead on an RBI single.

“I thought Mason Green was great; I thought Davey threw the ball well too, but had some tough luck out there,” Thompson said. “We didn’t play clean. There’s nothing about what we did today that was perfect. There’s going to be mistakes made, but this team keeps fighting.”

UCF added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth. Three of the Knights’ four runs came in the seventh and eighth.

Following back-to-back walks to start the ninth inning, Simmons put down a sacrifice bunt to advance both runners. First baseman Jack Little (RSo.) plated a run with an RBI ground out to shortstop to cut into UCF’s lead, 4-3.

Final: Baylor 5, UCF 4

W: Lucas Davenport (4-1) L: Kris Sosnowski (3-4) S: Gabe Craig (10)

POTG: Mason Green (5 IP, 4 H, R, ER, BB, 2 K, 18 BF, 53 TP, 33 ST)

WHAT’S NEXT

The Bears (32-20, 12-16) will continue their series against UCF (28-25, 8-20) at 5 p.m. on Friday at John Euliano Park. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.