Baylor ends curse in Big 12 Championship, knocks off TCU in 11 innings

OKLAHOMA CITY - Seven trips to the Big 12 Tournament Championship game and Baylor still can't break the curse.

Just kidding.

After finishing the regular season sizzling hot, including a five-game winning streak that extended into the tournament, the Bears found a way to a 6-5 victory in an 11-inning contest that multiple times seemed out of reach.

Baylor starter Hayden Kettler escaped a big jam without any damage in the top of the first, Baylor promptly jumped into attack mode. Leadoff man Nick Loftin reached on an error and Richard Cunningham walked to bring up David Wendzel who launched a 3-run home run just inside the left field foul pole. 

From there it was TCU to strike back with two solo shots to cut Baylor's lead to 3-2 before things were shut down by both pitching staffs. After TCU's second homer in the second inning, it wasn't until the 8th inning that any more offensive damage was done by either team. 

Unfortunately for Baylor, it was in the top half of the inning in the form of a two-run homer to put the Horned Frogs up 4-3.  

The Bears would threaten again in the bottom of the eighth but with no success. After Wendzel was hit by a pitch and Andy Thomas singled with no outs, Shea Langeliers and pinch hitter Tucker Johnson, who entered the game for Davion Downey, struck out. After the second pitching change of the inning, Cole Haring ended the bottom half of the inning with a deep fly out to center.

Nick Loftin would reach on a double with two outs in the bottom of the ninth on a ball hit high into a no-doubles alignment by TCU and would eventually score on a high fly ball by Cunningham that was lost in the sun by TCU's right fielder to send the game to extras innings. Cunningham was thrown out at third trying to advance from second to end the inning.

After a scoreless 10th by both teams, TCU's leadoff man walked and advanced to second on a ground out. With two outs, TCU singled to give the Horned Frogs a 5-4 lead which looked as though would be enough to clinch the victory.

But the Bears weren't finished. After a walk to tie the game with the bases loaded and Langeliers at bat, the sophomore catcher delievered a two-out game-winning RBI single to center field.

Senior closer Troy Montemayor earned the victory on the mound.

Baylor finishes the season 36-19 and now waits to hear their NCAA Regional destination. The selection show is set for Monday morning on ESPNU.