Baylor Baseball Snaps Losing Streak with 7–0 Shutout of Air Force in Series Opener

WACO, Texas – Baylor baseball (7-6) broke its three-game losing streak and got back in the win column with a 7-0 victory over Air Force (3-9) in the series opener on Friday night at Baylor Ballpark.

The Bears out-hit the Falcons, 11-to-4, with five of those base knocks being for extra bases. Shortstop Travis Sanders (RJr.) collected his eighth multi-hit game of the season, going 3-for-4 at the plate with two doubles.

Outfielders Ty Johnson (5Sr.) and Brady Janusek both recorded multi-hit games as well, combining for five base knocks, four runs and two RBIs.

Meanwhile, on the mound, five different Bears combined to pitch Baylor’s first shutout of the season, tallying a season-high 14 strikeouts, while only allowing four hits. Baylor’s pitching staff allowed just one walk in the victory, and the defense didn’t record an error.

“I’m proud of this win,” head coach Mitch Thompson told the Baylor Sports and Media Network post-game. “We didn’t walk many people. We attacked the strike zone. We gave up four hits. We made all the plays on defense. We ended up with 11 hits and seven runs, and that’ll usually translate to a win. It was a great Friday night for us, and we need to show up tomorrow and be ready to do it again.”

Davenport made his return to the mound on Friday after missing back-to-back starts with “arm soreness,” and was dominant, striking out three across two scoreless frames. The lone hit allowed was a bloop single into no man’s land in shallow right field.

Sanders led off the bottom of the fourth with a double, and Johnson plated him on an RBI triple to right-center field to put the Bears on the board.

A few at-bats later, Janusek poked a double to right field and designated hitter Hunter Snow (RFr.) clobbered a triple to right-center field, marking the first time since 2012 that the Bears had two triples in the same frame.

Snow later came around to score on a wild pitch, extending Baylor’s lead 4-0; he finished the contest 1-for-4 with a strikeout.

“The second time through the lineup was when we were able to crack it open,” Thompson said. “The first time through the lineup, the at-bats were just okay. The second time through, we started it off with double-triple-double-triple. It was a great day for us.”

Right-handed pitcher Brayden Bergman (RFr.) replaced Davenport and delivered 1.2 shutout frames without allowing a hit; he also punched out four Falcons.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Bears added two more insurance runs when Johnson chopped a leadoff single up the middle and later came around to score on a wild pitch. Second baseman Brytton Clements (RFr.) also lined an RBI single up the middle.

“There are so many guys that are young that are out there playing that made an impact on the game, but it was nice to see veterans like Ty Johnson get back out there and have three or four really quality at-bats and make a quality play or two in the outfield,” Thompson said.

Across the middle innings, relievers Cayden Baker (RFr.) and RJ Ruais (Jr.) combined for 3.1 shutout frames, without surrendering a base knock or allowing a free pass; the duo combined for five strikeouts.

Right-handed pitcher Caldwell McFaddin (Fr.) made the second outing of his Baylor career and closed out the contest with two scoreless frames.

“I thought our pitchers were outstanding; it was great to get Davenport back out there to start, and then we followed him up with several other guys,” Thompson said.

Thompson continued, “You might not typically think that’s how you want to do it on Friday nights, but for us right now, still returning a couple guys from rehab and injuries, it’s important to keep getting them out there.”

Final: Baylor 7, Air Force 0

W: RJ Ruais (1-0) L: Gaines Estridge (1-3)

POTG: Travis Sanders (3-for-4, R, 2 2B)

What’s Next

The Bears (7-6) will continue their series against Air Force (3-9) at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 7, at Baylor Ballpark. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.