Baylor Baseball: BSB Uses Superb Pitching to Sweep Doubleheader vs. NC A&T

[Rhodes, Zach]

BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – April 2, 2021

BSB Uses Superb Pitching to Sweep Doubleheader vs. NC A&T
The Bears have only allowed one run in the three-game series
For more information contact: Zach Rhodes, 919-247-7585, Zach_Rhodes at baylor.edu

WACO, Texas – Baylor baseball swept the doubleheader against North Carolina A&T on Friday at Baylor Ballpark. The Bears (17-10) first defeated the Aggies (7-20), 5-0 in seven innings, before winning 7-1 in the second game of the day.

GAME 1

Baylor starting pitcher Blake Helton (2-2) threw a complete-game seven-inning shutout to earn his second win of 2021. His seven innings set a new career-high as he allowed seven hits, walked two and struck out three.

The Baylor offense scored early following a leadoff double from second-year freshman Jared McKenzie, fifth-year senior Andy Thomas brought him home with an RBI-single to make it 1-0 after the first.

The Bears put up a four-spot in the third inning, after two singles and a walk loaded the bases with one out. Following a second-consecutive walk that scored a run and an out, third-year sophomore Chase Wehsener doubled down the left field line to clear the bases and put BU up 5-0.

The defense kept the Aggies in check, as Baylor came away with the 5-0 win in seven innings. NC A&T starter Daniel Martinez (0-3) was tabbed with the loss.

GAME 2

The Aggies earned their first run of the series in the top of the first inning to take the 1-0 advantage. The lead was short-lived, as Baylor struck with two runs in the home-half of the frame. Newcomer Jack Pineda got the scoring started with a double to right field to score McKenzie, while later in the inning, Thomas used a sacrifice fly to give BU the 2-1 edge.

The runs continued to pile on in the second and third as it was Wehsener who came up with an RBI-single through the right side to score one, while the Bears added another after a double play to push the lead to 4-1. In the third, fourth-year junior Davion Downey crushed his third home run of the season to right to make it 6-1.

After four-straight scoreless innings from both sides, Baylor added an insurance run when freshman Beau Wimpee scored second-year freshman Kyle Nevin with a sacrifice fly after Nevin tripled in the eighth.

Fifth-year senior, Jimmy Winston (3-2) was stellar on the mound after throwing a perfect six innings in relief. Winston did not allow a hit or walk, while tying a career-high in strikeouts with seven. The Aggies’ starter Xavier Meachem (0-5) picked up the loss.

NOTES
• Baylor is now 15-2 at Baylor Ballpark.
• BU is 16-5 against non-conference opponents.
• Fifth shutout of the year for Baylor.
• It was the first time Baylor has thrown back-to-back complete game shutouts since Feb. 20-22, 2017 (vs. Nevada, at Texas State).
• Helton threw his longest career outing after completing the seven-inning shutout.
• Winston set a new career high in innings pitched in relief with six, while tying his career-high with seven strikeouts.
• Wehsener on the day went 3-for-6 with four RBI.
• Downey hit his third home run of the year and 13th of his career.
• Thomas finished the day 3-for-5 with two runs and two RBI.
• Nevin went 2-for-4 with three runs scored and hit his third triple of his career in the second game of the day.
• Wimpee earned his first career start as the designated-hitter in game two, he finished 1-for-2 with an RBI and run scored.

QUOTE FROM COACH ROD
“I think the big thing was when you saw how quickly they got ahead of hitters, and they didn’t walk guys, it made it really easy for our defense and the constant ground balls they were receiving, kept our defense on their toes and in the action. The pitchers just did a phenomenal job today, being able to go and do what they did, with [Blake] Helton early on and then [Jimmy] Winston and [Hambleton] Oliver who did the opener for us, then Logan [Freeman] came in and finished it off. They just did a great job forcing contact and allowing the defense to play for them.”

WHAT’S NEXT
The two sides will conclude the series tomorrow at 12 p.m. CT inside Baylor Ballpark.

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_2062447356]<http://baylorbears.com/>

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