HUNTSVILLE, Texas – Baylor baseball fought hard for a 4-2 win in 12 innings over Sam Houston State on Tuesday evening at Sanders Stadium. The Bears (15-16) scored in the eighth and 12th innings to take down the Bearkats (23-9).
BU grabbed a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning after an Andy Thomas single and Shea Langeliers double led to sacrifice fly by Davion Downey. However, SHSU bounced back in the fifth with two runs on a walk, error and two hits.
The Bears knotted the game in the eighth, though. Levi Gilcrease led off with a pinch-hit single and moved to second on a wild pitch. Following an intentional walk to Davis Wendzel, Thomas singled up the middle to tie the game.
Each team then exchanged close calls on taking the lead. Baylor had a runner on second in the ninth with no outs, Sam Houston State had a runner on second in the 10th with one out and a runner on second in the 11th with one out, but both bullpens got the tough outs.
In the 12th, Wendzel walked with one out and Langeliers walked with two outs. Then Downey roped a single through the right side to put the Bears up 3-2. Cole Haring followed with a grounder to third that was mishandled to let Langeliers score to add to the edge that stood.
BU reliever Troy Montemayor (1-1) earned the win, giving up a hit and walk with two strikeouts in two innings. SHSU reliever Colin Cameron (1-1) took the loss, allowing two runs (one earned) on a hit and two walks with two strikeouts in one inning.
“It’s been frustrating because we’ve been playing hard and things haven’t gone our way lately. It hasn’t been due to a lack of effort or determination. Today was a great testament to our bullpen. The energy in our dugout was phenomenal and that’s hard to do in a long game like this. Credit Sam Houston State as well. They are a really good team and this was just a good baseball game tonight.” – Baylor Head Coach Steve Rodriguez
The Bears head to Memphis for a non-conference weekend series against the Tigers this weekend with games at 6:30 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m.Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.
