Baylor Falls to UTSA, 11-6, in Bruce Bolt Classic Finale Despite Sanders’ 3-Hit Contest
HOUSTON – Baylor baseball (6-5) fell to UTSA (10-1) in the finale of the Bruce Bolt Classic by a score of 11-6 on Sunday night at Daikin Park.
Shortstop Travis Sanders (RJr.) collected his sixth multi-hit game of the season, totaling three of the Bears’ 12 hits. Designated hitter Cash McDade (Fr.) notched his first career home run in Baylor’s defeat, while third baseman Brytton Clements (RFr.) tallied his first-ever multi-hit contest, totaling two doubles and two runs.
All six of Baylor’s runs came across the final four frames, as the Bears couldn’t rebound from a shaky start from righty Cade Hansen (Sr.), who surrendered seven early runs to put the game out of reach by the third inning. The Roadrunners finished with 13 base knocks, with seven of their 11 runs being scored with two outs.
“We got behind and were chasing a big number; the guys didn’t quit, and we kept fighting,” head coach Mitch Thompson told the Baylor Sports and Media Network post-game. “We gave up too many two-out runs when you’re a pitch away from getting out of an inning, and it didn’t happen. It didn’t happen today for us on the mound, and we didn’t get enough going offensively. We just got beat.”
Hansen, the Wisconsin–Whitewater transfer, made his third career start in the Green and Gold but was roughed up by the Roadrunners, allowing seven earned runs on seven hits over just 3.1 innings. Hansen has a 10.54 ERA so far this season.
UTSA’s starting pitcher, Conor Myles (RSr.), however, dominated Baylor’s batting order, striking out four Bears and only surrendering three hits across five scoreless innings on 74 pitches.
With Myles out of the contest, the Bears finally got on the board in the sixth inning with a solo shot from McDade, the first long ball of his career. McDade finished the contest 2-for-5 at the plate.
Out of Baylor’s bullpen, right-handed pitcher Luke DeVasher (Jr.) allowed one run in 1.2 innings, while Brayden Bergman (RFr.), Camden Clewett (So.) RJ Ruais (Jr.) and Caldwell McFaddin (Fr.) all tossed scoreless frames.
“DeVasher competed for us. Brayden Bergman was good. Caldwell McFaddin was nice there at the end, and RJ did a nice job,” Thompson said. “They gave us an opportunity [to stay in the game].”
In the bottom of the seventh, Baylor added three more runs on back-to-back RBI base knocks from Sanders and second baseman Pearson Riebock (So.), as well as an RBI bloop single from Brady Janusek (Fr.) to cut into UTSA’s lead, 9-4.
The Roadrunners added two more runs in the top of the eighth off right-handed pitcher Cade Waibel (Jr.), and the Bears responded with a two-spot in the bottom of the inning, thanks to two more RBI singles from Sanders and Riebock.
Despite a rough last couple of games, Riebock went 2-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs in Sunday’s loss to UTSA.
Final: UTSA 11, Baylor 6
W: Conor Myles (1-0) L: Cade Hansen (0-2)
POTG: Travis Sanders (3-for-4, R, 2 RBI, BB)
What’s Next
The Bears (6-5) will travel to Stephenville to take on the Tarleton State Texans (6-4) at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 3, at Tarleton’s Baseball Complex. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
