Armstrong Breaks Baylor Home Run Record in Series-Saving Win Over UCF on Sunday, 8-7

WACO, Texas – Baylor baseball (26-25, 12-15) salvaged its series against UCF (29-19, 18-9) and clinched a spot in the Big 12 Tournament with a thrilling 8-7 win over the Knights on Sunday afternoon at Baylor Ballpark.

History was made in the victory, as first baseman Tyce Armstrong’s (RSr.) two-run tank in the third inning broke the program single-season record for home runs (22), while right fielder Brady Janusek (Fr.) tied Max Muncy’s program single-season record for home runs (11) from a freshman.

Shortstop Travis Sanders (RJr.) and catcher Brayden Buchanan (RSo.) also homered in the contest, marking the first time this season that Baylor’s batting order hit four long balls in a game.

In his final start at home, left-handed pitcher Ethan Calder (Sr.) worked around a bumpy third inning and earned his fifth win of the season, allowing four earned runs and punching out four batters in six frames.

“It’s a fight all the way through,” head coach Mitch Thompson told the Baylor Sports and Media Network after the victory. “That’s a really good club. They’re playing really well, and we fought them today. Our guys battled their tails off. We had to fight until the last pitch of the game, but I’m really proud of our guys.”

After a pair of scoreless innings to open the contest, Calder ran into trouble in the top of the third and surrendered back-to-back homers to outfielders DeAmez Ross (Sr.) and John Smith III (Sr.), giving UCF an early 4-0 lead.

“We weren’t going to pull Ethan at that point in time,” Thompson said. “We knew he was going to go back out, and he gave us three good innings of baseball. I’m so proud that he got the win here today. What a way to go out.”

The Bears battled back in the bottom of the frame, with long balls from Armstrong and Janusek to trim the lead to 4-3. Then, Baylor took its first lead of the weekend in the following inning on a two-run shot from Sanders, which was his sixth homer of the year.

“It’s unbelievably cool to think that Tyce’s first game here at Baylor Ballpark, he hits three grand slams and sets college baseball history, then he goes right back to it here in his last game, and he breaks Charley Carter’s 28-year record,” Thompson said. “Tyce is the embodiment of everything we want as a Bear. He’s humble. His work ethic. What a great teammate. What a stud.” 

Center fielder Ty Johnson (5Sr.) reached base in four of his five plate appearances on Sunday and came around to score on an RBI sacrifice bunt from third baseman Cole Lanclos (Fr.); the Bears finished with eight hits, four of which were homers and three of which were infield singles.

With Calder finally out of the contest, the Knights were able to scrape across runs in each of the seventh and eighth innings off RJ Ruais (Jr.) and Caleb Bunch (Sr.), but Bunch was able to get a bases-loaded punchout to secure his seventh save of the season and the win.

Final: Baylor 8, UCF 7

W: Ethan Calder (4-5) L: Kaniel Rosado (0-2) S: Caleb Bunch (7)

POTG: Tyce Amrstrong: (1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, BB)

What’s Next

The Bears (26-25, 12-15) will finish the regular season with a series against Utah (24-22, 11-16), starting at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 14, at Charlie Monfort Field at America First Ballpark. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.