Baylor Baseball: BSB Edges Memphis, 5-4 on Friday Night

[Rhodes, Zach]

BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – March 5, 2021

Baseball Edges Memphis, 5-4 on Friday Night
Fifth-year senior Luke Boyd shut the door in the ninth
For more information contact: Zach Rhodes, 919-247-7585, Zach_Rhodes at baylor.edu

WACO, Texas – Baylor baseball pulled out a gritty 5-4 win over Memphis, in the first game of the four-game series at Baylor Ballpark on Friday night. The Bears (4-4) jumped to a 3-1 edge in the first inning and managed to hold on to defeat the Tigers (4-2).

The Bears gave up a run early in the first, but soon took the lead in the bottom of the frame. Fifth-year senior catcher Andy Thomas hit an RBI-single to tie things up. Later in the inning, fourth-year junior Davion Downey came up big with an RBI-single to score two and give the Bears the 3-1 advantage.

Baylor added to its lead in the bottom of the fourth, when second-year freshman Jared McKenzie hit a sacrifice fly into centerfield allowing Downey to score and extend the Baylor lead to 4-1.

The Bears gave up two solo home runs in the sixth and seventh, as the BU lead trimmed to 4-3. In the home-half of the seventh, third baseman Esteban Cardoza-Oquendo hit an RBI-single, to push the lead to 5-3.

The Tigers added a run in the eighth, but it was not enough as a strikeout and runner caught stealing in the ninth ended the game, with Baylor on top, 5-4.

In his first win of the season, starter Blake Helton (1-1) threw for a career-high six innings, while allowing two runs on four hits and tying a career-best with six strikeouts. Memphis’ Blake Wimberley (0-1) was tabbed with the loss, as BU’s fifth-year senior Luke Boyd (1) shut the door with his first save of the season.

NOTES
• Helton threw a career high for six innings while also tying a career high with six strikeouts in his first win since 2019.
• Three players ended the game with two hits, including McKenzie, Downey, and second-year freshman Tre Richardson.
• Downey ended the night with two RBI which matched his season high.
• After ending 2020 tied for the nation in saves with six, Boyd earned his first save in his first save opportunity of 2021.

QUOTE FROM COACH ROD
“It was great watching (Blake) Helton go out there and get us a little deeper into the game and also having (Luke) Boyd come in and close it out, obviously helps. I tell people that he’s one of the best there is for a reason and that’s why he’s out there. Watching those two do that today was really great for our team.”

WHAT’S NEXT
The two sides will play two on Saturday with first pitch of the first game coming at 2 p.m. The first game played will be seven innings and the second a full nine-inning contest.

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_447652735]<http://baylorbears.com/>

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