Early Errors Cost Baylor Baseball in 5–2 Loss to No. 3 Texas

HOUSTON – Baylor baseball (6-4) couldn’t complete back-to-back upsets and fell to the No. 3 Texas Longhorns (10-0) in a narrow defeat, 5-2, in the second game of the Bruce Bolt Classic on Saturday night at Daikin Park.

The Bears had plenty of opportunities offensively but struggled all evening at the plate against the elite Texas pitching staff, finishing the game with four hits and 11 punchouts. Baylor drew nine walks in the defeat, but stranded 11 runners and went 1-for-18 with runners on and 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position.

Left-handed pitcher Ethan Calder (Sr.) didn’t have his best start, surrendering five runs, but two of those runs were unearned, as the Bears had three critical errors across the first three frames. Baylor’s bullpen did a great job keeping the Bears in the game, combining to toss five shutout innings, allowing only three hits and issuing just one walk.

“Texas was really good; they played really well,” head coach Mitch Thompson told the Baylor Sports and Media Network post-game. “They ran some really good arms out there at us. Our guys fought, but we didn’t play well enough to win.”

Thompson continued, “I thought Zack Wallace was fantastic in relief — he kept us right there. McLeod and Ruais kept us right there and gave us an opportunity — we just couldn’t get anything going. Offensively, it was a tough day. They weren’t going to make many mistakes, and they’re tough to hit.”

Although the Bears had committed just seven errors through their first nine games entering Saturday, Baylor’s defense faltered early, tallying three miscues across the first three innings. In the bottom of the first, a throwing error by Calder on a two-out chopper allowed runners to reach second and third.

Following a hit by pitch to load the bases, left fielder Anthony Pack (Fr.) shot a single into right field that got under the glove of Brady Janusek (Fr.), clearing the bases for the Longhorns and giving Texas an early 3-0 lead.

A one-out error from Travis Sanders (RJr.) at shortstop — his first of the season — gifted the Longhorns another base runner in the third inning. Pack made Baylor pay again with an RBI single, and then later came around to score on an RBI squeeze bunt, extending Texas’ lead to 5-0.

“We didn’t play well enough defensively tonight,” Thompson said. “We cracked the door for these guys. I think four of their runs scored tonight were getting on base from walks, being hit by a pitch or errors from us. When you give up that many free bases, it’s going to be tough.”

The Bears got on the board in the fourth inning when Sanders drew a lead-off walk, and catcher Brayden Buchanan (RSo.) poked a single through the right side to put runners on the corners with no outs.

While Sanders was tagged out between third base and home plate on a fielder’s choice, Buchanan later came around to score on a wild pitch, paving the way for left fielder Hunter Snow (RFr.) to eventually score on a fielder’s choice as well, cutting the Texas lead to 5-2.

Right-handed pitcher Zack Wallace (So.) continued his fantastic season with three shutout frames out of the bullpen. Wallace kept the Bears in the contest in the middle innings, striking out one and allowing only one hit on 46 pitches.

Following Wallace’s stellar showing, relievers Luke McLeod (Fr.) and RJ Ruais (Jr.) combined for two scoreless frames to keep the Longhorns’ lead at three runs.

In the top of the seventh, Janusek picked up an infield single and second baseman Pearson Riebock (So.) drew a walk to put two Bears aboard with no outs. The heart of Baylor’s order, first baseman Tyce Armstrong (RSr.), Sanders and Buchanan all struck out, however.

“Those are some fantastic arms,” Thompson said. “I’ve seen Texas play for a long time, for 30 years now, but I think that’s as good a Texas pitching staff as I’ve ever seen. They’ve got big-time arms. That’s a good club.”

The Bears had one final chance to capitalize when Snow hit a leadoff single and eventually got around to third base with just one out in the eighth inning, but neither Brytton Clements (RFr.) nor Ty Johnson (5Sr.) could plate the run.

Final: No. 3 Texas 5, Baylor 2

W: Max Grubbs (2-0) L: Ethan Calder (0-1) S: Thomas Burns (2)

POTG: Zack Wallace (1-for-5, R, 4 RBI, HR)

What’s Next

The Bears (6-4) will close the Bruce Bolt Classic against UTSA (9-1) at 6:05 p.m., March 1, at Dalkin Park. The game will be streamed for free via the Houston Astros YouTube channel.