Baylor Stumbles in Series Opener, Falls 11–1 to Cincinnati in Run-Rule Loss

CINCINNATI – Baylor baseball (19-14, 7-6) dropped its first series opener of conference play with an 11-1 run-rule defeat to Cincinnati (22-13, 5-8) in eight innings on Friday night at UC Baseball Stadium.

The Bears uncharacteristically had three errors in the loss, as well as a handful of other plays that cost Baylor runs that weren’t made. Right-handed pitcher Lucas Davenport (RJr.) allowed a season-high five earned runs and seven hits across 5.1 frames.

Baylor was out-hit, 10-to-7, in the contest and left nine runners on base, while going 2-for-10 (.200) at the plate with runners on. First baseman Tyce Armstrong (RSr.) and Brady Janusek (Fr.) both recorded multiple base knocks and combined for three extra-base hits.

“They put some runs on us, and we decided to go a different route in the bullpen, and they kept tacking runs on — it wasn’t our night,” head coach Mitch Thompson told the Baylor Sports and Media Network post-game.

Thompson continued, “We didn’t pitch well enough, and we gave them too many free bases and made a couple of errors defensively as well. There’s one thing you’ve got to do in this league, if you want to win, and it’s play well. We’re facing a real guy on their end, and they’re facing our real guy.”

The Bears got on the board in the top of the first, as Janusek shot a two-out single up the middle and Armstrong plated him with an RBI double down the left field line; Janusek leads the team in runs scored (32), and Armstrong leads the club in RBIs (39).

Baylor started the contest 5-for-8 at the plate with two outs, and in the top of the third, Armstrong doubled again and designated hitter Hunter Snow (RFr.) singled to first base to put runners on the corners, but a sharp grounder from Pearson Riebock (So.) was hauled in, stranding two aboard.

From that point forward, the Bears couldn’t get anything going at the plate and Cincinnati out-scored Baylor 11-0 over the final six frames, starting with a go-ahead, two-run single from first baseman Quinton Coats (So.) in the bottom of the third.

Cincinnati’s starting pitcher, righty Nathan Taylor (RJr.), punched out 11 batters, while only issuing two free passes; he allowed just one earned run across seven innings on 105 pitches, 72 of which were strikes.

The Bearcats added three more runs in the bottom of the fifth and two more runs scored in the sixth on a two-out double that got over the head of left fielder Dylan Perez (Fr.).

Davenport allowed seven hits and six runs — five of which were earned — while striking out six across 5.1 innings of work on 101 pitches.

Coats secured the run-rule victory with a two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth off Baylor reliever Camden Clewett (Fr.); Coats finished the contest 3-for-5 at the plate with four RBIs.

Final (8 Innings): Cincinnati 11, Baylor 1

W: Nathan Taylor (4-1) L: Lucas Davenport (3-1)

POTG: Tyce Armstrong (2-for-4, RBI, 2 2B)

What’s Next

The Bears (19-14, 7-6) will continue their series against Cincinnati (22-13, 5-8) tomorrow at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 11, at UC Baseball Stadium. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.