<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">
<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)">
<!--[if !mso]><style>v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style><![endif]--><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Impact;
panose-1:2 11 8 6 3 9 2 5 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style>
</head>
<body lang="EN-US" link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style="word-wrap:break-word">
<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – Feb. 21, 2021</span></b><u><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Impact",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">BSB Splits Doubleheader with UTRGV<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">The Bears won the first game 12-7, before dropping the second 9-8</span></i><i><u><span style="font-family:"Impact",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></u></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">For more information contact: </span></b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Zach Rhodes, 919-247-7585, </span><u><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1">Zach_Rhodes@baylor.edu</span></u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">EDINBURG, Texas – </span></b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">After 347 days since the 2020 season was canceled, Baylor baseball got back in action on Sunday
with two games at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. The Bears (1-1) dominated the first contest with a 12-7 victory and went up 8-0 in the fifth inning of the second game, before eventually falling to the Vaqueros (1-1) 9-8 at UTRGV Stadium.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">GAME 1<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">After the Vaqueros opened up the scoring with a solo home run in the bottom of the second frame, the Bears offense exploded for 12 runs over the next three innings.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">In the top of the third, newcomer Antonio Valdez smacked a single for his first hit in a Baylor uniform, while Esteban Cardoza-Oquendo followed Valdez with his first career home run
to give the Bears the 2-1 edge. Baylor was not finished in the inning as singles from second-year freshmen Jared McKenzie and Kyle Nevin, setup fifth-year senior Andy Thomas who crushed his ninth-career homer to make it 5-1 going into the bottom of the frame.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">The Vaqueros added a run in the bottom half of the third, but again the Bears responded with four runs in the fourth. McKenzie got things started with two outs as he hit his first
career home run to make it 6-2. After newcomer Jack Pineda got his first career hit with a single and Nevin reached on an error, it once again setup Thomas who roped a two-run double to the wall in left-center field to extend the lead to 8-2. Outfielder Davion
Downey kept finished the scoring run with a single to right center to make it 9-2.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">For the third-straight inning, UTRGV scored in a frame, this time adding two runs to trim the Baylor advantage to 9-4 heading into the fifth. BU answered with three in the top half
of the fifth after McKenzie hit his second career home run with a three-run shot to build the lead to 12-4.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">UTRGV added three runs in the sixth to make it 12-7, when reliever Jacob Ashkinos came in to shut the door in the final three innings to earn the first save of his career. Second-year
pitcher Hambleton Oliver (1-0) earned the win after 1.1 innings of relief work.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">GAME 2<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">The Bears jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first after back-to-back RBI fielder’s choice and a Downey RBI-double to left center field. First baseman Chase Wehsener continued
the scoring in the second inning with a leadoff home run to make it 4-0. Singles in the third frame by Tre Richardson and Cardoza-Oquendo set up Valdez for an RBI-base knock to extend the lead to 5-0.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Starting pitcher Tyler Thomas held the Vaqueros in check, after only allowing three hits in the first four innings of scoreless baseball.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">The runs kept coming in for the Bears in the fifth inning after two walks and a fielder’s choice put runners on the corners. Three-straight RBI singles from Valdez, Wehsener and McKenzie
boosted the BU lead to 8-0.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">In the bottom of the frame, UTRGV got two runs back following a two-run shot. The Vaqueros continued to put on the pressure in the seventh inning with three RBI-singles of their own
to trim the deficit to 8-5. With runners on first and third, UTRGV tied things up with a three-run homer to left field.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">The score remained at 8-8 heading into the bottom of the eighth, when the Vaqueros took the lead after scoring from third with an infield single and held on in the ninth for the 9-8
victory.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">NOTES</span></b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><br>
• Head Coach Steve Rodriguez is now 4-2 at BU in season-opening games.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">• BU hit five home runs in the first two games. Under Rodriguez the Bears have hit 212 HR in 240 games.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">• The Baylor offense combined for 31 hits and 20 runs on Sunday.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">• In both games, all nine players in Baylor’s starting lineup finished the first game with a hit.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">• McKenzie combined 6-for-11, two home runs, five RBI and four runs.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">• Pineda went 5-for-11, while scoring two runs in his first two games as a Bear.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">• Valdez finished the day 4-for-8 with three runs scored and two RBI in his first career games at BU.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">GAME 1</span></b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">• The Bears hit two home runs in the third inning, which marked the first time since the opening series last season against Nebraska (2/15/20) that the Bears hit two home runs in
one frame.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">• Six players finished the contest with two or more hits<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">• McKenzie went 4-for-6 career high with four RBI, while hitting his first two home runs of his young career.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">• Thomas set a new career-high with five RBI, while crushing his ninth career homer of his five-year career.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">• Cardoza-Oquendo hit his first career home run with a two-run shot in the third inning of the season opener.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">• In their BU debuts, Pineda finished going 3-for-6 while scoring a run and Valdez went 2-for-4 with two runs scored.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">• Baylor hit four home runs in the first game of the day, the first time the Bears have hit four or more HRs in a game since Feb. 26, 2019 against Dallas Baptist.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">• Ashkinos earned his first career save after throwing three scoreless innings, while only allowing one hit and striking out three.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">GAME 2</span></b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">• McKenzie, Pineda, Valdez and Wehsener all finished with two hits apiece.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">• Wehsener hit his first home run of the season after leading the team in home runs last season with three.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">• Starting pitcher Thomas impressed with the longest outing of his career, going six innings while only giving up four hits, two runs, two walks and striking out four.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">STAT OF THE DAY</span></b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><br>
After hitting an impressive .406 last year as a freshman, McKenzie picked up right where he left off, going a combined 6-for-11 with his first two career home runs, five RBI and four runs scored on Sunday.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">QUOTE FROM COACH ROD</span></b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><br>
“The biggest thing was trying to get the rust off. It has been almost a year since we have played another team and was just really happy with the competitive nature that our guys showed throughout that whole game. The conditions aren’t ideal with the wind and
battling fly balls. I was happy in both games how we continued to communicate on defense and compete offensively by putting the ball in play and force them to play defense.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">WHAT’S NEXT</span></b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><br>
The Bears and Vaqueros will finish up their series on Monday at 1 p.m. in UTRGV Stadium. The game will be streamed on WACDigitalNetwork.com.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">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).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt;background:white">-BaylorBears.com-</span></i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:black">Zach Rhodes</span></b><span style="color:black"> | Associate Director of Athletics Communications<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Department of Athletics | Baylor University<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">C: 919-247-7585 | O: 254-710-3784<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://baylorbears.com/" title="http://baylorbears.com/"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="160" height="44" style="width:1.6666in;height:.4583in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01D7088D.1C7639C0" alt="signature_30897832"></span></a><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>