Baylor Baseball: BSB Set to Travel to UTRGV for Three-Game Series

[Rhodes, Zach]

BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – Feb. 20, 2021

Baseball Set to Travel to UTRGV for Three-Game Series
The Bears will play a doubleheader on Sunday, followed by a game on Monday to open 2021
For more information contact: Zach Rhodes, 919-247-7585, Zach_Rhodes at baylor.edu

EDINBURG, Texas – After a few schedule changes, Baylor baseball officially announced that it will head to Edinburg, Texas this weekend to play three games against the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley at UTRGV Stadium. The Bears and Vaqueros will start with a doubleheader on Sunday, Feb. 20 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. The last game of the series will start at 1 p.m. on Monday.

BU’s originally scheduled three-game home series against Jacksonville State was canceled earlier this week due to weather conditions. The Bears were also scheduled to play the Vaqueros on Monday at Baylor Ballpark before the change.

SERIES INFO
Date:  Sun.-Mon. Feb. 21-22
Game Times: (Sun.) 11 a.m. & 2 p.m. (Mon.) 1 p.m.
Site:Edinburg, Texas / UTRGV Stadium (4,000) (Closed to the public)
TV/Stream:WACDigitalNetwork.com
• Talent: Jonah Goldberg (pxp), Danny Elizondo (color)
Radio:101.3 FM
• Talent: Derek Smith (pxp)
Live Stats: GoUTRGV.com
Twitter Updates:@BaylorBaseball
Series History: Baylor leads 1-0
Streak: BU has won the only meeting
            First Meeting: Feb. 26, 2020 (BU won, 2-0)
            Last Meeting: Feb. 26, 2020 (BU won, 2-0)
            Under Rodriguez: 1-0

PITCHING MATCHUP
Sun. Feb. 21 – Baylor RHP Blake Helton vs. UTRGV RHP Kevin Stevens (Game One)
Sun. Feb. 21 – Baylor LHP Tyler Thomas vs. UTRGV RHP Kevin Palm (Game Two)
Mon. Feb. 22 – Baylor RHP Jimmy Winston vs. UTRGV RHP J.C. Ariza

STORY LINES
• Head Coach Steve Rodriguez enters his sixth year at the helm for the Bears, sporting a 140-98 overall record. Rodriguez is 3-2 at BU in season-opening games, while winning the last four season-opening series.

• The strength of BU’s Bullpen in 2020 was on another level with Luke Boyd, Logan Freeman, Tyler Thomas combining for a 0.33 ERA in 27 IP between the trio. Baylor also returns seven of nine position player starters, including second-year freshman outfielder Jared McKenzie who was named a 2020 Freshman All-American (Collegiate Baseball), after hitting .406 with 28 base knocks in 16 games.

• Three Bears were selected to the 2021 Preseason All-Big 12 Team with Boyd, McKenzie and Andy Thomas all earning the distinction. Boyd was also named to the NCBWA Preseason All-American First Team.

• Five pitchers including Boyd, Freeman, Hayden Kettler, Ryan Leckich and Jimmy Winston are all back, along with veteran catcher Andy Thomas.

• Second-year freshman OF Jared McKenzie had a hit in 14-of-16 games last year and had multi-hit performances in 10 of those 16 games. The 2020 Freshman All-American (Collegiate Baseball News) totaled 28 hits last season which ranked 12th-most in the nation and the highest hit total of any freshman in the country. Likewise, his batting average of .406 is the highest of any freshman in the Big 12 and ranked third in a power-packed Big 12. He also ranked 21st nationally with an average of 1.73 hits per game.

• Kyle Nevin is coming off of an impressive first season with the program as he hit .350 at the plate, while tying for the team lead in triples in 2020 with two. Evan Godwin held his own in the rotation as a freshman in 2020, as he made three starts and finished third on the team in innings pitched (18.0) and second in strikeouts with 17. Hambleton Oliver ended last season with a stellar 1.86 ERA in six appearances, including two starts. Oliver compiled eight strikeouts in 9.2 innings.

• Baylor has a good mix of returners along with 20 new faces for the 2021 season.

To stay up to date throughout the season on all things Baylor baseball, follow the team on Facebook (Baylor Baseball), Twitter (@BaylorBaseball) and Instagram (@BaylorBaseball).


-BaylorBears.com-


Zach Rhodes | Associate Director of Athletics Communications
Department of Athletics | Baylor University
C: 919-247-7585 | O: 254-710-3784

[signature_1610310369]<http://baylorbears.com/>

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