Baylor Baseball: BSB Returns Home for Midweek Matchup with Prairie View A&M

[Rhodes, Zach]

BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – April 26, 2021

Baseball Returns Home for Midweek Matchup with Prairie View A&M
The Bears and Panthers will play for the second time this season on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in Waco
Game Notes: http://baylorbea.rs/3r9TtUN
For more information contact: Zach Rhodes, 919-247-7585, Zach_Rhodes at baylor.edu

WACO, Texas – Baylor is coming off its third-straight Big 12 series after defeating No. 5 Texas Tech in a three-game set over the weekend in Lubbock and will take on Prairie View A&M for a midweek matchup on Tuesday, April 27 at 6:30 p.m. at Baylor Ballpark. The Bears (26-13, 7-8 Big 12) defeated the Panthers (10-14, 10-6 SWAC) earlier this season on March 17, 12-2 in Waco. BU has won 13 of its last 16 games while the Prairie View has won its last six.

The Bears lead the all-time series 11-0 against Prairie View A&M. Head Coach Steve Rodriguez is 6-0 against the Panthers.

SERIES INFO
Date: April 27 (Tues.)
Game Times: 6:30 p.m.
Site: Waco, Texas / Baylor Ballpark (5,000) (50 percent)
TV: Big 12 Now (ESPN+)
• Talent: John Morris (pxp), Pat Combs (color)
Radio: ESPN 1660/92.3 FM
• Talent: Derek Smith (pxp), Paul Thorp (color)
Live Stats: TexasTech.com
Twitter Updates: @BaylorBaseball
Series History: BU leads, 11-0
                        Streak: BU, W11
                        First Meeting: April 20, 2005
                        Last Meeting: March 17, 2021 (BU won 12-2)
                        Under Rodriguez: 6-0

PITCHING MATCHUP
Tues. April 27 – LHP Cam Caley (0-1, 6.11 ERA) vs. TBA

STORY LINES
• The Bears are 19-3 this season at Baylor Ballpark. BU has finished its home schedule with a .500 record or better in all 21 seasons (Since 1999) and is 473-208 all-time at the park.

• As a team, Baylor is near or at the top of the Big 12 and in the country in various categories. The Bears are second in the Big 12 in batting average (20th nationally) with a .300 clip. BU is second in the league with five shutouts (5th nationally) and second in the Big 12 in earned run average with a 3.55 ERA (19th nationally).

• Fifth-year senior Andy Thomas was on a tear bringing runners home as he was on a 13-game RBI streak from 4/1-4/23. Thomas has had at least one RBI in 14 of his last 15 games. On the season, Thomas has a career-best 44 RBI, which is first on the team and 3rd in the Big 12. His 44 RBI in 39 games is also 13th in the country.

• On the season, second-year freshman Jared McKenzie is hitting .382 (4th Big 12), while leading the league and 2nd in the nation in runs scored with 48. In addition, McKenzie’s four triples are 1st in the league, while his 102 total bases are fourth in the Big 12 and eighth nationally. The Round Rock native, is also tied for the team lead in home runs with seven after not hitting any in the shortened 2020 season.

• Baylor has hit 245 home runs in 278 games under Rodriguez, including 38 in 2021. Before 2020, the Bears were coming off back-to-back-back seasons with at least 50 home runs (51 in 2017, 54 in 2018, 57 in 2019) for the first time since 2008 (52), 2009 (73) and 2010 (57) and first time in the BBCOR era. In 2020, BU was on pace to hit over 50 home runs once again prior to the season getting canceled.

• Baylor has one of the most reliable bullpens in the country, with the combination of Luke Boyd, Logan Freeman, Ryan Leckich, Jacob Ashkinos, Hambleton Oliver and Jimmy Winston. Leckich is tops in the conference in appearances and 24th nationally with 19 in 2021. Boyd is 2nd in the conference with 18 outings and Freeman is 5th in the Big 12 with 17 appearances. Winston leads the team with six wins (T-2nd in Big 12), while Ashkinos has a perfect 3-0 record. Each is sporting an impressive ERA, led by Boyd (1.35),  Winston (2.81), Freeman (2.84), Leckich (3.20), Oliver (3.52) and Ashkinos (4.18).

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_1645073814]<http://baylorbears.com/>

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