Baylor Baseball Starts Conference Play Against K-State

Thu Mar 16 17:07:52 CDT 2023

BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – March 16, 2023

Baylor Baseball Starts Conference Play Against K-State
Bears looking for first series win in Big 12 opener since 2019
For more information contact: Max Calderone, 254-265-1639, Max_Calderone at Baylor.edu<mailto:Max_Calderone at Baylor.edu>

[BU Logo]
BAYLOR BEARS (6-11, 0-0 Big 12)
Location: Waco, Texas
Conference/Affiliation: Big 12
Head Coach: Mitch Thompson<https://baylorbears.com/sports/baseball/roster/coaches/mitch-thompson/1881> (Fort Hays St., 1988)

Roster<https://baylorbears.com/sports/baseball/roster> | Stats<https://baylorbears.com/sports/baseball/stats/2023> | Game Notes (PDF)<https://baylorbears.com/documents/2023/3/16/BU_BSB_Game_Notes_2023_18-20_K-State.pdf>
BAYLOR (6-11, 0-0) vs KANSAS STATE (12-5, 0-0)
March 17, 2023 • 6:30 p.m. CT
March 18, 2023 • 2:00 p.m. CT
March 19, 2023 • 1:00 p.m. CT
Waco, Texas • Baylor Ballpark (5,000)

LIVE STATS: BaylorStats.com<https://www.statbroadcast.com/events/statbroadcast.php?t=1&gid=bay>
WATCH: Big 12 Now on ESPN+
Talent (Fri. & Sat.):  Pete Sousa (play-by-play) & Pat Combs (analyst)
Talent (Sun.):  Lincoln Rose (play-by-play) & Pat Combs (analyst)
LISTEN: ESPN Central Texas 1660 AM & 92.3 FM (Fri & Sat.)*
LISTEN: FOX Sports Central Texas 1330 AM & 93.9 FM (Sun.)*
Talent: Nolan Bay, Tyler Thomas<https://baylorbears.com/sports/baseball/roster/tyler-thomas/11284>
*Contingent upon Baylor men's and women's basketball results

Baylor Social Media: [auto twitter icon] <https://twitter.com/BaylorBaseball>  [instagram png] <https://www.instagram.com/baylorbaseball/?hl=en>  [Facebook PNG] <https://www.facebook.com/BaylorBaseball/>
[K-State Logo]
KANSAS STATE (12-5, 0-0 Big 12)
Location: Manhattan, Kan.
Conference/Affiliation: Big 12
Head Coach: Pete Hughes (Davidson, 1990)

Roster<https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster> | Stats<https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/stats> | Game Notes (PDF)<https://www.kstatesports.com/documents/2023/3/16/20230316_KStateBSB_Notes_BU.pdf>

STORYLINES
LEADING OFF
• Baylor Baseball continues along its third week of a 14-game homestand, opening Big 12 play against Kansas State this weekend at Baylor Ballpark in Waco. The home stretch lasts until March 24, when the Bears travel to take on Oklahoma State in Stillwater, Okla., in the second week of Big 12 play.
• The Bears are coming off a 6-0, two-hit shutout win over Rice on Tuesday.
• BU pitchers struck out 15 Owls in the ballgame, tying for the second-most in a single game this year.
• Baylor was swept in its most recent weekend series against Mercer, falling in a pair of three-run ballgames in addition to dropping an 11-2 series opener.
• Last Friday night, Baylor pitchers struck out a season-high 16 batters, the most by BU in a 9-inning game since March 30, 2019, at Kansas.
• Fifth-year senior RHP Blake Helton<https://baylorbears.com/sports/baseball/roster/blake-helton/11490> has started 49 of the last 56 batters he has faced with a first-pitch strike.
• Junior LHP/OF Cam Caley<https://baylorbears.com/sports/baseball/roster/cam-caley/11478> struck out a career-high eight batters in his Sunday start against Mercer.
• Junior INF Will Pendergrass<https://baylorbears.com/sports/baseball/roster/will-pendergrass/12081> led the Bears on the week with a .375 clip (6-for-16) and four extra-base hits, including his first home run in the green and gold.
• Freshman INF Kolby Branch<https://baylorbears.com/sports/baseball/roster/kolby-branch/12083> has reached base in all 17 games this season.
FRESHMAN 15
• Freshman INF Kolby Branch<https://baylorbears.com/sports/baseball/roster/kolby-branch/12083> is off to a torrid start, hitting .368 with six doubles, three homers and 18 RBI through his first 17 collegiate games.
• Through his first 15 career games, Branch's numbers compare favorably to each of BU's last five Freshman All-America honorees:
Kolby Branch<https://baylorbears.com/sports/baseball/roster/kolby-branch/12083> (2023) -- .333 (20-for-60) / 3 HR / 17 RBI
Jared McKenzie<https://baylorbears.com/sports/baseball/roster/jared-mckenzie/11272> (2020) -- .400 (26-for-65) / 0 HR / 5 RBI
Nick Loftin (2018) -- .222 (10-for-45) / 0 HR / 4 RBI
Shea Langeliers (2017) -- .300 (18-for-60) / 2 HR / 10 RBI
Logan Vick (2010) -- .356 (21-for-59) / 1 HR / 6 RBI
Max Muncy (2010) -- .344 (21-for-61) / 4 HR / 16 RBI
ADD IT TO THE K-COUNTER
• The Bears have eclipsed double-digit strikeouts on the mound in 13 of their 17 games so far this season.
• BU has punched out at least 13 opposing hitters in nine games this year.
• Baylor leads the Big 12 and is tied for 7th nationally with 200 strikeouts.
• BU's 11.61 strikeouts per nine innings also leads the conference and ranks 13th nationally.
SERIES HISTORY VS K-STATE / BY THE NUMBERS
• Baylor leads the all-time series over Kansas State, 53-32.
• The Wildcats took two of three from the Bears last season in Manhattan. Prior to that, BU had won each of the last three series.
• Baylor is 6-4 against K-State over the last 10 matchups.
• In the last five seasons, Baylor is 2-3 in conference-opening series with an overall 8-7 record among those 15 games.
PROBABLE STARTERS
• Friday, March 17 • 6:30 p.m. • RHP Blake Helton<https://baylorbears.com/sports/baseball/roster/blake-helton/11490> (0-2, 7.91 ERA) vs. LHP Owen Boerema (2-0, 3.26 ERA)
• Saturday, March 18 • 2:00 p.m. • RHP Mason Marriott<https://baylorbears.com/sports/baseball/roster/mason-marriott/11495> (0-2, 6.11 ERA) vs. RHP Jackson Wentworth (1-1, 8.36 ERA)
• Sunday, March 19 • 1:00 p.m. • LHP Cam Caley<https://baylorbears.com/sports/baseball/roster/cam-caley/11478> (0-3, 8.64 ERA) vs. RHP German Fajardo (0-1, 6.75 ERA)
BROADCAST INFORMATION
• All three games will be broadcast on Big 12 Now on ESPN+, with Pete Sousa (play-by-play) and former Bear Pat Combs (analyst) on the call. Lincoln Rose will team with Combs to provide the play-by-play in Sunday's finale.
• Fans can also tune in to the Baylor home radio broadcast, featuring Nolan Bay and former BU pitcher Tyler Thomas<https://baylorbears.com/sports/baseball/roster/tyler-thomas/11284>, on ESPN Central Texas 1660 AM/92.3 FM.
• Sunday's station will be determined by a potential Baylor men's basketball time conflict. Either ESPN Central Texas 1660 AM/92.3 FM or FOX Sports Central Texas 1330 AM/93.9 FM will carry baseball's radio coverage.

To stay up to date on all things Baylor baseball, follow the team on its official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts: @BaylorBaseball.

-BaylorBears.com-

__________________________________

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

[signature_721779155]<http://baylorbears.com/>

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