Series Preview: Baylor Baseball Continues Conference Play against BYU

WACO, Texas – Baylor baseball (16-12, 5-4) continues conference play against the BYU Cougars (13-14, 4-5). The Bears will open the series at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 2. Friday’s game is also slated for 6:30 p.m., while the series finale on Saturday is scheduled for 1 p.m. All three games this weekend will be streamed on ESPN+.

Baylor Bears

• Record: 16-12 (5-4)
• RPI: 34th
• SOS: 9th

2026 Season Statistics

• Batting Average: .265 (Tied 12th in Big 12)
• Earned Run Average: 5.20 (5th in Big 12)
• Fielding Percentage: .978 (4th in Big 12)

Head Coach: Mitch Thompson

• Career Record: 463-238 (13th season) 
• Record at Baylor: 91-100 (4th season) 

2026 Projections

• D1Baseball: 10th in Big 12
• Coaches Poll: 11th in Big 12

Notable Results

• Wins: No. 25 Ole Miss, Houston (3)
• Losses: No. 11 Oregon State, No. 20 Southern Miss, No. 3 Texas, UTSA, Kansas State, No. 22 West Virginia (2), Oklahoma State (2)

BYU Cougars

• Record: 13-14 (4-5)
• RPI: 55th
• SOS: 18th

2026 Season Statistics

• Batting Average: .283 (8th in Big 12)
• Earned Run Average: 6.79 (13th in Big 12)
• Fielding Percentage: .973 (8th in Big 12)

Head Coach: Trent Pratt

• Career Record: 102-109 (5th season) 
• Record at BYU: 102-109 (5th season) 

2026 Projections

• D1Baseball: 12th in Big 12
• Coaches Poll: 12th in Big 12

Notable Results

• Wins: Cincinnati (2), Oklahoma State (2)
• Losses: Cal Baptist (3), West Virginia (3), Kansas State

Baylor’s Projected Starting Lineup

• SS: Travis Sanders (RJr.): (.374 BAVG, 1.021 OPS, 107 AB)
• LF: Pearson Riebock (So.): (.220 BAVG, .613 OPS, 82 AB)
• RF: Brady Janusek (Fr.): (.327 BAVG, 1.013 OPS, 110 AB)
• 1B: Tyce Armstrong (RSr.): (.283 BAVG, 1.027 OPS, 106 AB)
• DH: Hunter Snow (RFr.): (.206 BAVG, .755 OPS, 68 AB)
• 2B: Robert De La Garza (Jr.): (.313 BAVG, .811 OPS, 32 AB)
• 3B: Brytton Clements (RFr.): (.301 BAVG, .753 OPS, 73 AB)
• C: JJ Kennett (Jr.): (.273 BAVG, .822 OPS, 44 AB)
• CF: Ty Johnson (5Sr.): (.195 BAVG, .599 OPS, 77 AB)

Projected Bench

• INF: Cade Dodson (So.): (.236 BAVG, .700 OPS, 55 AB)
• C: Brayden Buchanan (RSo.): (.222 BAVG, .653 OPS, 45 AB)

*2026 Stats: (BAVG = Batting Average, OPS = On-Base Percentage + Slugging Percentage, AB = At-Bats)*

BYU’s Projected Starting Lineup

• 2B: Luke Anderson (Sr.): (.264 BAVG, .794 OPS, 110 AB)
• 1B: Ezra McNaughton (So.): (.386 BAVG, 1.1219 OPS, 114 AB)
• SS: Ryder Robinson (Jr.): (.312 BAVG, .964 OPS, 109 AB)
• CF: Crew McChesney (Jr.): (.309 BAVG, .965 OPS, 110 AB)
• 3B: Easton Jones (Sr.): (.258 BAVG, .908 OPS, 93 AB)
• DH: Bryker Hurdsman (Sr.): (.247 BAVG, .737 OPS, 77 AB)
• RF: Tu'alau Wolfgramm (So.): (.412 BAVG, 1.062 OPS, 34 AB)
• LF: Ryker Schow (So.): (.344 BAVG, 1.212 OPS, 32 AB)
• C: Parker Goff (Sr.): (.196 BAVG, .570 OPS, 46 AB)

*2026 Stats: (BAVG = Batting Average, OPS = On-Base Percentage + Slugging Percentage, AB = At-Bats)*

Probable Starting Pitchers

• BU SP 1 – RHP: Lucas Davenport (RJr.); (1.89 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 19 IP, 5-5 APP-GS, 2-0 W-L)
• BYU SP 1 – LHP: Justin Reiser (RJr.); (8.71 ERA, 1.78 WHIP, 10.1 IP, 6-3 APP-GS, 0-0 W-L)
• BU SP 2 – RHP: Zack Wallace (So.); (4.10 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 26.1 IP, 9-4 APP-GS, 3-1 W-L)
• BYU SP 2 – LHP: Wayland Crane (Sr.); (7.00 ERA, 1.81 WHIP, 27 IP, 7-7 APP-GS, 0-2 W-L)
• BU SP 3 – TBD
• BYU SP 3 – RHP: Cayson Bell (RSo.); (6.28 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 14.1 IP, 7-2 APP-GS, 1-0 W-L)

*2026 Stats: (ERA = Earned Run Average, WHIP = Walks & Hits Per Inning Pitched, IP = Innings-Pitched, APP = Appearances)