Baylor Baseball Holds Off Ohio State, 8-6

[Calderone, Max]

BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – March 1, 2025

Baylor Baseball Holds Off Ohio State, 8-6
Four-run eighth inning and pair of two-run homers lead Bears past Buckeyes
For more information contact: Max Calderone, 254-265-1639, Max_Calderone at Baylor.edu<mailto:Max_Calderone at Baylor.edu>

ARLINGTON, Texas – Baylor baseball picked up its first win at Globe Life Field, 8-6 over Ohio State on Saturday afternoon, behind a strong offensive performance.

A pair of two-run home runs by redshirt senior designated hitter Hunter Simmons and redshirt sophomore infielder Jack Little accounted for BU’s first four tallies, but a four-run eighth inning was the difference maker. Senior infielder Hunter Teplanszky delivered the big blow, a two-run double to put the Bears back in front, while sophomore catcher JJ Kennett and senior infielder Tyriq Kemp produced back-to-back RBI knocks.

Sixth-year senior southpaw Bryson Bales gave the Bears five strong innings on the mound, allowing just one run on three hits and two walks while striking out three. Redshirt sophomore righty Lucas Davenport was solid in relief, going 2.2 innings and allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits with four punchouts.

It was junior lefty Stefan Stahl who earned the win and sixth-year senior right-hander Gabe Craig who picked up the save, his second of the season.

THE RUNDOWN
Both sides were held scoreless early on, as Bales retired nine of the first 11 batters he faced and put up nothing but zeros through the first four frames.

Baylor threatened in the second after a one-out double by freshman infielder Pearson Riebock and two-out walk to Teplanszky, but left the runners on the corners to end the frame.

In the fourth, Simmons broke the deadlock with a two-run shot to right-center, his first long ball of the year. Senior outfielder Ty Johnson kept the rally going with a one-out single on the 12th pitch he saw, but would be left on base to end the inning.

OSU got one back in the fifth on a hit and an error, but BU answered back with another two-run shot, this time from Little to make it 4-1, Bears.

The Buckeyes added a tally in the top of the sixth on an RBI single and later tied it in the eighth with a two-run home run, but Baylor responded once more with a four spot in the bottom half on run-producing hits by Teplanszky, Kennett and Kemp.

In the top of the ninth, OSU inched closer with a two-run home run, but Craig came on to collect the final three outs of the ballgame and seal the Baylor victory.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Today’s win marks Baylor’s first at Globe Life Field, as the Bears were 0-7 previously at the new home of the Texas Rangers.
• This was the first meeting between Baylor and Ohio State in baseball, as BU now leads the all-time series 1-0.
• This is the seventh time since the start of the Steve Smith era (1995 season) that the Bears have opened the season at 8-2 or better -- 2000 (8-2), 2008 (9-1), 2009 (8-2), 2012 (8-2), 2017 (10-0), 2019 (8-2), 2025 (8-2).
• Redshirt sophomore INF Jack Little tallied his fifth multi-hit and second multi-RBI performance of the season, including a two-run homer, his first as a Bear.
• Senior DH Hunter Simmons crushed his first home run of the season and produced his third multi-RBI effort of the year.
• Simmons also extended his on-base streak to 17 games, dating back to the 2023 season.
• Senior OF Ty Johnson picked up his fourth multi-hit game of 2025.
• Senior INF Hunter Teplanszky logged his first multi-RBI game of the year.
• Senior INF Tyriq Kemp extended his on-base streak to nine games.
• Junior LHP Stefan Stahl picked up the first win of his collegiate career.
• Senior RHP Gabe Craig earned his second save of the season.

STAT OF THE DAY
8 – Baylor scored eight runs in picking up its eighth win of the season.

QUOTABLE
Head Coach Mitch Thompson
On his team’s mentality…
“I think one of the things you’re seeing from our club is that we do respond. We do punch back. Virtually every time that they put some runs on the board, we came back in the bottom half and responded. Those are always big things, qualities and traits of a really good club. So hopefully those are good signs for what’s to come.”

Senior INF Hunter Teplanszky
On his go-ahead two-run double…
“That felt phenomenal. I’ve struggled a little bit to start the year but have taken good swings, so to get one and finally see it down was really awesome.”

On what this win means going forward…
“I think what’s been really fun about this team so far is every day we show up and compete. Even today, there was no tightness about us. I think we just came out to play baseball again. It’s about us, it’s about how we play the game. Obviously there’s another team on the field, but it’s about how good we can compete against the game.”

Senior LHP Bryson Bales
On winning a back and forth game…
“It feels awesome. I’m glad to get a win here. It was huge for us. I’m glad our hitters showed up today and helped out our pitching. This is a big win for us and I think it’s going to be huge down the road, too. I just want to go win tomorrow.”

WHAT’S NEXT
Baylor (8-2) finishes its weekend at Globe Life Field against No. 25 Auburn (9-1) on Sunday, March 2, with a 3 p.m. first pitch.

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_4102284613]<http://baylorbears.com/>

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