WACO, Texas – Baylor baseball (2-0) clinched an opening series victory with a 5-2 win over New Mexico State (0-2) on Saturday night at Magnolia Field at Baylor Ballpark.
The Bears were out-hit in the contest by the Aggies, 7-to-3, but two of those base knocks were long balls, as designated hitter John Youens (RSo.) and right fielder Brady Janusek (Fr.) crushed back-to-back jacks in the first inning, both of which were their first career homers.
“The first inning looked like the same stuff as yesterday, and then after that, it was a much tougher day,“ head coach Mitch Thompson told the Baylor Sports Media Network post-game. “I give their guys credit. I thought their pitchers really pitched well after that first inning of the game.”
Lefty Ethan Calder (Sr.) started on the mound for the Bears and was dominant, allowing just one hit and fanning five across 3.2 frames on 57 pitches. Veteran right-handed pitcher Caleb Bunch (5Sr.) struck out three and tossed 3.1 scoreless innings in relief of Calder.
“He was really good; we pitched him to his pitch count, and then we had to get him out of the game,” Thompson said of Calder. “Early in the year, we’ve got to keep these guys on pace because we’ve got to keep them healthy, and you can’t push that. He was mowing through them and was throwing the ball well.”
After the Bears drew 13 free passes last night, the walk-party carried over into Saturday, as Cade Dodson (So.), Travis Sanders (RJr.) and Pearson Riebock (So.) drew back-to-back-to-back free passes to load the bases for first baseman Tyce Armstrong (RSr.) in the first inning.
Armstrong, who became the second player in college baseball history to hit three grand slams in a single game on Friday, appeared to hit another, tattooing a ball, but New Mexico State’s right fielder, Easton Rulli (RJr.), made a great snag to limit Armstrong to an RBI sacrifice fly.
With two runners still aboard, Youens crushed a pitch over the heart of the plate 401-feet over the left-center field wall for a three-run homer, the first of his career, giving Baylor an early 4-0 lead.
The following at-bat, Janusek got in on the action with a solo shot of his own, marking his first career hit and first career homer. Through the first eight frames of the season, the Bears had totaled five home runs; it took Baylor seven games to reach that mark in 2025.
“He does have power and has the ability to hit the ball out to all parts of the park,” Thompson said of Janusek. “We’ve got to get his feet wet and really get him comfortable and keep letting him swing it. There are good things that can come from that. He hits balls as hard as anyone on our club.”
After the five-spot in the first inning, the Bears’ offense hung seven consecutive zeros and had just four base-runners across the final six frames. The last Baylor hit was a Sanders triple in the second inning.
“We’re not pleased with the way we swung the bats in the last six, seven innings of the game, but I give their guys credit,” Thompson said. “They made all the plays on defense. We didn’t get many balls to hit hard.”
Veteran righty Grayson Murry (Sr.) entered the contest in the eighth inning and surrendered two runs, allowing New Mexico State to cut Baylor’s lead to 5-2. Across 18 appearances last season, Murry allowed two earned runs just once. Murry returned for the ninth and got the final three outs.
“Grayson Murry battled,” Thompson said. “He battled. He gave up some hits, and I know he’s not particularly happy with the outing, but I’ll take it because we won the ball game.”
Final: Baylor 5, New Mexico State 2
W: Caleb Bunch (1-0) L: Fabian Ibarra (0-1)
POTG: Ethan Calder (3.2 IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, 5 K, 14 BF, 57 TP, 37 ST)
What’s Next
The Bears (2-0) will close the series against New Mexico State (0-2) on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Baylor Ballpark. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
