Baylor Baseball Stumbles in Series Opener at Houston, 4-3

[Calderone, Max]

BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – March 8, 2024

Baylor Baseball Stumbles in Series Opener at Houston, 4-3
Top of the order combines for four hits and three runs in Friday night loss
For more information contact: Max Calderone, 254-265-1639, Max_Calderone at Baylor.edu<mailto:Max_Calderone at Baylor.edu>

HOUSTON – Baylor baseball (4-9, 0-1) was edged by Houston (9-4, 1-0), 4-3, in Friday night’s series opener at Schroeder Park in Houston.

The Cougars claimed the one-run victory after both team’s bullpens held offenses scoreless over the final four innings of the game. BU redshirt junior right-hander Patrick Hail and sophomore southpaw Ethan Calder relieved a decent start by junior righty Mason Marriott and recorded the final eight outs of the night without allowing a hit.

Baylor’s top three spots in the batting order of junior outfielder Ty Johnson, junior infielder Hunter Teplanszky and redshirt junior outfielder Enzo Apodaca combined for four of BU’s five hits and scored all three runs. Junior outfielder Wesley Jordan also contributed an RBI double in the defeat.

THE RUNDOWN
The Bears got out to a quick lead in the first after loading the bases on a Teplanszky single, Apodaca walk and Jordan hit by pitch, as senior infielder Daniel Altman plated the game’s first run on a fielder’s choice. Altman would be caught stealing to end the inning, preventing Apodaca’s run from scoring on the play.

Marriott worked out of potential in the danger in the bottom of the first, stranding a runner as junior catcher Cortlan Castle caught one stealing to end the frame. Both starters settled in over the next two frames, until the Cougars threw the next punch with a three spot in the bottom of the fourth.

Baylor would respond in the top of the fifth, as Apodaca and Jordan hit back-to-back RBI doubles to knot the scoreline at 3-3. However, in threatening for more, UH was able to tip-toe out of the peril and strand a pair of Bears.

The Cougars took back the lead in the bottom half, as a two-out RBI single chased in what proved to be the winning run. After the Bears went down in order in the sixth, Hail came on and left the bases loaded with a strikeout and a groundout, keeping BU within a run.

Both sides went quietly across the final third of the night, as Hail and Calder kept the Bears within striking distance, but the offense could only muster one more hit.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Baylor still leads the all-time series over Houston, 90-70.
• Redshirt junior OF Enzo Apodaca recorded at least two hits for the sixth time this season.
• Apodaca also extended his team-leading on-base streak to 12 games.
• Apodaca and junior OF Wesley Jordan hit back-to-back RBI doubles in the fifth inning.
• Jordan reached base safely for the fifth-consecutive game.
• Redshirt junior INF Will Pendergrass extended his on-base streak to nine games.
• Junior RHP Mason Marriott went longer than five innings for the third time this year.
• Redshirt junior RHP Patrick Hail notched his third scoreless outing of the season.
• Sophomore LHP Ethan Calder collected his third scoreless effort of 2024 and fourth-consecutive outing without allowing an earned run.

STAT OF THE DAY
6 – Enzo Apodaca collected his sixth multi-hit effort of 2024.

QUOTABLE
Head Coach Mitch Thompson
On tonight’s ballgame…
“It’s a Friday night in the Big 12, a well-pitched ballgame. Their guy was really good early and Mason [Marriott] matched him early and we just came up a run short. We made several errors which made it more difficult for us. They had one big inning and we missed some opportunities. Couple of things happened that ended up coming back to haunt us in a tight ballgame, especially on a Friday night. We just didn’t get it done.”

WHAT’S NEXT
Baylor (4-9, 0-1) looks to even the series at Houston (9-4, 1-0) in Saturday’s second game of the weekend. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. from Schroeder Park in Houston.

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 (Baseball, Football)
Department of Athletics | Baylor University
C: 254-265-1639

[signature_1983495098]<http://baylorbears.com/>

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