Bears Explode for 17 Hits in 14-4 Rout of Texas State to Stay Perfect at 4-0

WACO, Texas – The Bears (4-0) closed their four-game homestand to open the season with a dominant 14-4 victory over Texas State (3-1) on Tuesday night at Baylor Ballpark.

The top of the batting order — shortstop Travis Sanders (RJr.), second baseman Pearson Riebock (So.) and first baseman Tyce Armstrong (RSr.) — combined for eight hits, seven runs and two RBIs, as the Bears collected a season-high 17 base knocks compared to Texas State’s eight.

“It’s so much fun hitting between those two guys,” Riebock told the Baylor Sports Media Network after the win. “It’s not every day you can hit between two guys that talented. Travis is a freak athlete. We saw how much power Tyce has.”

The Cy-Fair product, Bo Caraway (Fr.), got his first collegiate start in center field and went 3-for-5 at the plate with two RBIs and caused some havoc on the basepaths with his elite speed. His other true freshman partner in the outfield, Brady Janusek (Fr.), went 1-for-3 with an RBI triple.

Meanwhile, on the mound, six Baylor pitchers — Zack Wallace (So.), Mason Green (Jr.), Charlie Atkinson (Jr.), Luke DeVasher (Jr.), Luke McLeod (Fr.) and Grayson Murry (Sr.) — combined for 8.2 shutout innings and 11 punchouts, while surrendering just five hits.

The MCC transfer right-handed pitcher, Cade Waibel (Jr.), however, allowed a four-spot in the third inning, which gave Baylor its first deficit of the season, but the Bears responded with six straight zeroes.

“I was praising the guys because we got challenged tonight,” head coach Mitch Thompson told the Baylor Sports Media Network post-game. “We came out of the chute really good early, and then we got punched in the mouth when they scored four. That was the first time we trailed all year, and the guys responded right back.”

For the third straight game, the Bears got the scoring started in the first inning as designated hitter John Youens (RSo.) crushed a two-run double into the right-center field gap; Youens finished the contest 1-for-2 and drew three free passes.

Atkinson, a DBU transfer, and McLeod, a true freshman, both made their debuts in the Green and Gold and combined for three scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and striking out two apiece.

In the fifth inning, the Bears tied the game on a Janusek triple that was inches away from a home run, and then later in the frame, Caraway came up with a clutch two-run single into center field, for the first hit of his collegiate career.

“This is part of the deal, we gotta throw them out there and let them grow and let them learn,” Thompson said of his true freshmen outfielders. “The only way we’re ever gonna learn what they can and can’t do is to let them do it. We trust them. They’ve been good players for us all fall and into the spring. They played well tonight.”

Baylor broke the game open in the sixth inning, as the Bears benefited from a litany of wild pitches — five to be exact — and hung a five-spot that was capped by a double from left fielder Caleb Bergman (Sr.).

Riebock and outfielder Hunter Snow (RFr.) both collected RBI extra-base hits across the final two frames.

Final: Baylor 14, Texas State 4

W: Charlie Atkinson (1-0) L: Ryan Markwardt (0-1)

POTG: Pearson Riebock (3-for-5, 3 R, RBI, 3B, BB)

What’s Next

The Bears (4-0) will travel down I-35 to compete in the 2026 Round Rock Classic, starting with a matchup against the No. 11 Oregon State Beavers (3-1) at 6 p.m., on Friday, Feb. 20, at Dell Diamond. Baylor will face Purdue (2-1) at 1 p.m. on Saturday and No. 20 Southern Miss (2-1) at 3 p.m. on Sunday.