Baylor Baseball Sweeps Doubleheader Over Air Force

[Calderone, Max]

BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – November 7, 2021

Baylor BSB Sweeps Doubleheader Over Air Force
Bears claim 12-3, 4-3 victories in 7-inning exhibitions
For more information contact: Max Calderone, 254-265-1639, Max_Calderone at Baylor.edu<mailto:Max_Calderone at Baylor.edu>

THE RUNDOWN
WACO, Texas – Baylor baseball won both ends of a doubleheader with Air Force Sunday at Baylor Ballpark, 12-3 and 4-3.

In game one, the Bears’ bats couldn’t be contained as they plated runs in each of the last six innings while cruising to victory. Antonio Valdez led the way with four hits and scored each time he reached base. Chase Wehsener drove him in to open the scoring in the bottom of the second before the Falcons scored their only runs on a three-run homer in the top of the third.

From there, it was all BU as Tre Richardson and Jared McKenzie each drove in a run to even the score in the bottom of the third. In the fourth frame, Baylor broke it open as a two-run error preceded Harrison Caley’s two-RBI double that made it 7-3. McKenzie then added one more on a sac fly and the Bears kept it rolling in the fifth with a single from Esteban Cardoza-Oquendo that chased in a pair.

In the sixth, McKenzie drove in his third run of the game with a towering solo home run to right-center, and Valdez crushed one of his own in the bottom of the seventh to increase the tally to 12-3.

Cam Caley started on the mound for the Bears and went three innings before turning it over to Mason Marriott who pitched the final four frames without allowing a run on just two hits.

In game two, Air Force jumped out to an early lead behind a couple of home runs against BU starter Cole Stasio. However, the Falcons couldn’t figure out reliever Grant Golomb as the sophomore RHP threw four hitless innings for the Bears to see out the contest.

Valdez got the Bears on the board in the bottom of the third with a sacrifice fly to cut the Air Force lead to 3-1. Then in the fifth, Jack Johnson’s RBI double inched Baylor closer at 3-2. A wild pitch tied the game at 3-3, then Cort Castle came up clutch with a pinch-hit RBI single that proved to be the game-winner.

For the latest news on the Baylor baseball team all season long, follow its official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts: @BaylorBaseball.

TOP QUOTES
Head coach Steve Rodriguez
On today’s doubleheader…
“I thought overall it was really good watching our guys go out there and compete against a team like Air Force that is very athletic and very talented. At the same time, knowing that they have a higher calling with their University and what they’re doing in regards to fighting for this country, the fact that we could be on this field and share this opportunity with them is pretty special.”

On strong outings by Marriott and Golomb…
“They went out there and threw strikes. They competed in the zone and they mixed in some really quality offspeed pitches. For us, that’s the biggest thing is making sure we’re pounding the zone, letting the defense play for us. As a coaching staff, for us to be able to see that from those guys was really good.”

Sophomore RHP Grant Golomb
On his four hitless innings and the offense coming up clutch…
“I think Cort (Castle) and (Nicolas) Balsano called a great game. Whatever they threw down is what we were rolling with. It was a lot of fun. The offense definitely makes our job easier when they have a big inning, Cort coming up with that game-winning hit late, it gives our whole team life. All that energy is really easy to use. I’m loving how the offense has looked this fall.”

Freshman C Cort Castle
On his game-winning hit…
“The guys were helping me out talking through the sequencing the pitcher was working with. We really had the energy going. I was hunting a fastball and I got it, just tried to hit it hard and it got through and scored a run. It was really cool to have the team behind me there when we took the lead and have all the energy come together.

WHAT'S NEXT
Baylor begins its annual Green & Gold World Series on Friday, Nov. 12, at Baylor Ballpark. Game One is set to begin at 6:30 p.m. and is free admission. GGWS rosters will be announced soon on Baylor Baseball’s social media channels.

-BaylorBears.com-


__________________________________

Max Calderone | Associate Director of Athletics Communications (BSB, FB, EQ)
Department of Athletics | Baylor University
O: 254-710-3073 | C: 254-265-1639

[signature_1186468871]<http://baylorbears.com/>

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