Bullpen Leads Baylor Baseball to Sixth-Straight Win

[Calderone, Max]

BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – Feb. 22, 2025

Bullpen Leads Baylor Baseball to Sixth-Straight Win
Bears top Gonzaga, 5-2, behind five scoreless innings of relief
For more information contact: Max Calderone, 254-265-1639, Max_Calderone at Baylor.edu<mailto:Max_Calderone at Baylor.edu>

WACO, Texas – Baylor baseball won it’s sixth-straight game, 5-2, over Gonzaga on Saturday afternoon at Baylor Ballpark in Waco thanks in part to a pair of strong relief appearances.

The BU bullpen combined for five scoreless innings in backing up starter Bryson Bales, who went four and allowed two runs on four hits with five strikeouts. Redshirt sophomore right-hander Lucas Davenport earned the win after dealing for four scoreless frames and retiring 12 of the 13 batters he faced while picking up three punchouts. Sixth-year senior righty Gabe Craig earned his first save of the year after tossing a scoreless ninth.

Five different Bears tallied an RBI in the victory, including senior infielder Tyriq Kemp and redshirt senior designated hitter Hunter Simmons who each logged two hits. The win marked Baylor’s sixth in a row to begin the season, the longest win streak under third-year head coach Mitch Thompson.

THE RUNDOWN
Kemp sparked the BU offense early after reaching on an infield single in the bottom of the third, the first of five-consecutive batters who reached safely as the Bears put up three runs to open the scoring. Redshirt senior outfielder Enzo Apodaca and Simmons each singled in a run, then a sacrifice fly from redshirt sophomore infielder Travis Sanders made it 3-0 through three.

The Bulldogs responded with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth, but Baylor answered right back as Kemp doubled in senior catcher Cortlan Castle to extend the lead to 4-2.

Davenport entered in the fifth and was effective from the jump, retiring the side with a punchout before the Bears added another run in the home half. This time, an RBI groundout by senior infielder Hunter Teplanszky did the trick, increasing the advantage to 5-2.

The righty hurler went on to retire nine of the next 10 Bulldog batters he faced, finishing with three strikeouts in four scoreless frames before turning the ball over to Craig in the ninth, who promptly slammed the door. Though he allowed a walk, a quick 4-6-3 double play erased the Gonzaga baserunner and a flyout to left field sealed the Bears’ sixth-consecutive win.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Baylor’s six-game win streak is its longest to start a season since 2019.
• The six-game win streak marks the longest under third-year head coach Mitch Thompson.
• Baylor pitchers have not allowed runs in 28 of their last 29 innings pitched.
• The BU bullpen currently boasts a 15-inning scoreless streak.
• Sixth-year senior LHP Bryson Bales fanned five in four innings of work in a no decision.
• Redshirt sophomore RHP Lucas Davenport picked up his first collegiate win after throwing four scoreless innings of relief and retiring 12 of the 13 batters he faced.
• Sixth-year senior RHP Gabe Craig earned his third-career save and first of 2025 after making his third scoreless appearance of the season.
• Redshirt senior OF Enzo Apodaca tallied his fifth-consecutive game with both a hit and an RBI.
• Fifth-year senior DH Hunter Simmons recorded his fourth multi-hit game of the year.
• Senior INF Tyriq Kemp logged his fourth multi-hit effort of the season and fifth game with an extra-base hit.
• Redshirt sophomore INF Travis Sanders picked up his first hit and RBI as a Bear.

STAT OF THE DAY
15 – The Baylor bullpen currently owns a 15-inning scoreless streak.

QUOTABLE
Head Coach Mitch Thompson
On starting 6-0…
“I think you’re seeing that we can win games in different ways. We’re beating different styles of pitching, we’re going out there and doing our thing. I love how good our bullpen and defensive play has been.”

Redshirt Sophomore RHP Lucas Davenport
On the team’s defensive play behind him…
“It’s been great. Even as well as I was throwing today, I still had eight ground balls so they got to make eight plays behind me. And if they don’t make those eight plays, it’s a completely different ballgame.”

Redshirt Senior DH Hunter Simmons
On the team’s 6-0 start…
“We’re playing good baseball and that’s all you can ask for. It’s been awesome. We’re not playing with our backs against the wall because we have relief guys like [Lucas] Davenport who can come in and give us four zeros. It just gets everybody fired up.”

WHAT’S NEXT
Baylor (6-0) goes for the sweep over Gonzaga (1-4) in the series finale Sunday at 12:00 p.m. at Baylor Ballpark in Waco.

To stay up to date on all things Baylor baseball, follow the team on its official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts: @BaylorBaseball.



-BaylorBears.com-


__________________________________

Max Calderone | Director of Athletics Communications (Baseball, Football)
Department of Athletics | Baylor University
C: 254-265-1639

[signature_4227362700]<http://baylorbears.com/>

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