Baylor Baseball Tripped Up at Tarleton State in 6-5 Loss

Tue Mar 3 22:22:34 CST 2026

BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – March 3, 2026

Baylor Baseball Tripped Up at Tarleton State in 6-5 Loss
Sanders becomes fastest Bear to 20 hits since 2019
For more information contact: Max Calderone, 254-265-1639, Max_Calderone at Baylor.edu<mailto:Max_Calderone at Baylor.edu>

STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Baylor baseball dropped a one-run ballgame to Tarleton State in Stephenville Tuesday night, 6-5, at the Tarleton Baseball Complex.

Redshirt senior first baseman Tyce Armstrong hit a solo home run in the top of the fifth to put the Bears (6-6) up 5-3, but the Texans (7-5) scored three unanswered and held BU scoreless the rest of the way to steal the win.

Redshirt junior infielder Travis Sanders logged his team-leading seventh multi-hit game of the year with a pair of knocks and became the fastest Bear to reach 20 hits in a single season since Davis Wendzel did so in the same amount of at-bats (43) in 2019. Since 2013, only one player has reached 20 hits faster than Sanders and Wendzel (Nathan Orf, 20-for-39, 2013).

THE RUNDOWN
Baylor benefitted from four-straight free passes to start the ballgame, as freshman outfielder Brady Janusek picked up an RBI after being hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, the third hit batter of the inning. Redshirt freshman infielder Brytton Clements also collected an RBI in the first inning with a sacrifice fly that put BU ahead 2-0.

Redshirt freshman right-hander Cayden Baker got the start for the Bears and threw two scoreless innings, leaving three Texans stranded before handing the ball over to the Baylor bullpen in the third. That’s when TSU plated three runs to climb in front, 3-2, on the backs of three hits and a BU error in the bottom of the third.

In the top of the fourth, Baylor countered with two runs to retake a 4-3 lead. Freshman outfielder Bo Caraway reached on an RBI fielder’s choice, then Sanders singled in a run to put BU back in front. Armstrong added on in the top of the fifth with a towering blast, a solo shot that traveled 433 feet and extended the Bears’ advantage to 5-3.

However, Tarleton State climbed right back in it with a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the sixth to pull within one, then plated a pair of runs in the seventh on three hits and a safety squeeze bunt to go ahead, 6-5.

Aside from a leadoff walk in the top of the eighth, the Bears were retired in order the rest of the way as the Texans sealed the one-run win.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Baylor is now 29-12 in midweek ballgames under fourth-year head coach Mitch Thompson.
• BU has stolen 22 bases in 12 games, its most to start a season since 2011 (24).
• Baylor pitchers walked just two batters, marking the fifth time this season the pitching staff has walked two or fewer batters.
• BU has scored runs in the first inning in seven of its 12 games so far in 2026.
• Redshirt junior INF Travis Sanders extended his on-base streak to 17 games, dating back to 2025.
• Sanders also extended his hitting streak to five games, as he has now hit safely in 11 of 12 games this year.
• Sanders tied Davis Wendzel as the fastest Bears to reach 20 hits (43 at-bats) to start a season since Nathan Orf (39 at-bats) in 2013.
• Sanders logged his team-leading seventh multi-hit game of the season.
• Redshirt senior 1B Tyce Armstrong extended his on-base streak to six games.
• Armstrong launched his fifth home run of the season, which accounted for his 21st RBI of the year, both team highs.
• Freshman OF Brady Janusek has reached safely in all 12 games so far this season.
• Redshirt freshman INF Brytton Clements notched his second multi-hit game of the year.
• Redshirt sophomore C Brayden Buchanan extended his on-base streak to six games.
• Redshirt freshman RHP Cayden Baker made his first-career start and tallied his second scoreless outing of the year.
• Senior RHP Grayson Murry tied his career high with three innings pitched.
• Fifth-year senior RHP Caleb Bunch worked his fourth scoreless outing of the season.

STAT OF THE DAY
.724 – Redshirt junior INF Travis Sanders is hitting .724 this season on balls in play. He became the fastest Bear to reach 20 hits in a season since Davis Wendzel did so in the same number of at-bats (43) in 2019.

QUOTABLE
Head Coach Mitch Thompson
On leaving more runs on the table…
“Yeah, we had a couple more chances to bust the game open early and didn’t get the hits to do it. That’s a big part of it. I give them credit, I thought they played really well tonight and pitched the ball well after the first inning. They came back and fought. We’ve got to do a better job on the mound, we’ve got to make better pitches. We’ve got to do a better job of getting balls in play. We’re striking out too much. And we made too many 0-2 mistakes that ended up being hits. Other than that, it’s a really good college baseball game. It’s a great environment and one that will help prepare us for going on the road.”

WHAT’S NEXT
Baylor (6-6) opens up an eight-game homestand on Friday, March 6, by welcoming Air Force (3-8) to Waco. First pitch for game one of the three-game series is set for 6:30 p.m. at Magnolia Field at Baylor Ballpark.

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

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