Lucas Davenport, Baylor offense power Bears past TCU in series opener, 11-4

WACO, Texas – Behind a strong start from right-hander Lucas Davenport and a late offensive surge, Baylor (22-15, 9-7 Big 12) powered past TCU (22-15, 8-8 Big 12), 11-4, in the series opener on Friday night at Baylor Ballpark.

Davenport set the tone early, delivering seven strong innings while allowing four runs and striking out six, giving the Bears the kind of Friday night stability head coach Mitch Thompson emphasized postgame.

“It starts on the mound, and Lucas was good,” Thompson said. “When you get seven on Friday night, buddy, it helps you tons.”

After falling behind 3-1 in the fourth inning, Baylor’s offense responded immediately and never backed down, eventually breaking the game open with a decisive five-run eighth inning that sent the Baylor Ballpark crowd into a frenzy.

Middle innings swing momentum Baylor’s way

The Bears tied the game early before TCU briefly grabbed control with a two-run fourth inning highlighted by a solo home run and an RBI groundout to take a 3-1 lead.

But Baylor responded in the fifth with a three-run inning that flipped the momentum for good.

A leadoff single from catcher Ty Kennett and another knock from Caraway set the stage before Travis Sanders delivered an RBI single, bringing Baylor within one. A sacrifice bunt moved runners into scoring position, and Brady Janusek followed with an RBI groundout to tie the game.

Moments later, Tyce Armstrong delivered the go-ahead RBI single, scoring Sanders and giving Baylor its first lead of the night at 4-3.

Thompson praised the team’s resilience in responding to adversity.

“When they got ahead three to one, it was important that we got back in it quickly,” Thompson said. “I like the way we fought offensively. I thought our guys had really good competitive at-bats.”

Baylor continues adding pressure late

The Bears kept applying pressure across the middle innings, adding another run in the sixth after Sanders dropped in an RBI bloop single to extend the lead to 5-3.

TCU trimmed the deficit with a solo home run in the seventh, but Baylor immediately answered again.

In the bottom half of the seventh, the Bears loaded the bases through patience and discipline at the plate, eventually pushing across another run via bases-loaded walk to make it 6-4.

That patience became a defining theme of the night.

“I like the maturity of our guys,” Thompson said. “There wasn’t anybody sitting there counting outs. We were trying to add one, add another, add another.”

Five-run eighth puts the game away

Baylor delivered the knockout punch in the eighth inning.

Second baseman Riebock ignited the inning with a solo home run, sending a towering shot over the wall and pushing the lead to 7-4.

From there, the floodgates opened.

Janusek followed with a single and later scored on another RBI knock from Armstrong. Baylor capitalized on defensive miscues moments later, plating two more runs on an errant throw before Kennett added an RBI groundout to cap the five-run frame.

By the time the inning ended, Baylor held a commanding 11-4 lead, effectively putting the game out of reach.

Bullpen slams the door

After Davenport exited following seven innings, Baylor’s bullpen took over and delivered in dominant fashion.

Caleb Bunch was electric out of the bullpen, recording five strikeouts across a five-out save, locking down the final innings and sealing the victory.

“I was pretty locked in,” Bunch said. “It helped that the crowd was really into it… when they come out and support like they did tonight, it makes it really easy for us to play as well as we did.”

The performance capped a complete team effort that Thompson said started with pitching and carried through the offense.

“Our bullpen the last two innings was fantastic,” Thompson said. “That was fun to watch.”

Offense delivers throughout the lineup

Baylor finished the night with 12 hits, showcasing depth throughout the order.

Sanders led the offensive charge with multiple clutch at-bats, continuing to produce in key situations while helping maintain pressure on TCU’s pitching staff.

“It was awesome,” Sanders said. “We just knew we’d come out and compete pitch to pitch, play good defense and have a good shot to come out on top.”

Armstrong added multiple RBIs, while Janusek and Kennett each contributed key hits during Baylor’s momentum-shifting innings.

Electric crowd fuels Baylor victory

Friday night’s atmosphere at Baylor Ballpark played a noticeable role in the team’s energy throughout the night.

Thompson described the environment as one of the most energized crowds the program has seen in years.

“That was an NCAA regional field,” Thompson said. “That was a way different environment in this ballpark than it’s been in a long, long time.”

Sanders echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the impact of fan support.

“I haven’t felt the crowd like that in two years,” Sanders said. “It just makes it so much easier to play when everybody’s behind you.”

Final: 11-4, Baylor

W: Lucas Davenport L: Trever Baumler

POTG: Caleb Bunch (1.2ip, 5ks, 0er)

What’s Next

The Bears (22-15, 9-7 Big 12) will continue their series against TCU (22-15, 8-8 Big 12) at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 18, at Baylor Ballpark. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.