<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">
<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)">
<!--[if !mso]><style>v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style><![endif]--><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#954F72;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style>
</head>
<body lang="EN-US" link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72">
<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – March 2, 2019</span></b><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b><span style="font-size:16.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">No. 12 Baseball Drops One to Rice</span></b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><br>
</span><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt">The Bears will face Texas State at 11 a.m. tomorrow.
<br>
</span></i><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">For more information contact: </span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#212121">Rachel Caton, 254-652-2061,
</span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><a href="mailto:Rachel_Caton@baylor.edu">Rachel_Caton@baylor.edu</a></span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#212121"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">THE RUNDOWN<br>
WACO, Texas</span></b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"> – A three-run fourth-inning wasn’t enough as No. 12 Baylor dropped a tight 6-3 contest to Rice Saturday afternoon at Minute Maid Park in its second
game at the 2019 Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Baylor starter Tyler Thomas retired the side in order to begin the ballgame, but found himself in trouble in the second inning as Rice’s Andrew Dunlap
took Thomas deep to give the Owls a 2-0 lead. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Rice (4-7) pushed across one more run in the third on an RBI single by Dominic DiCaprio but the Bears (8-2) were able to escape further damage thanks
to an outfield assist by Richard Cunningham that nabbed at baserunner at third.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Paul Dickens was the first arm out of the bullpen for the Bears, but he surrendered a solo shot to Rodrigo Duluc in the fourth inning that saw the
Owls lead swell to 4-0. Rice would add a fifth run with an RBI knock by Trei Cruz before Baylor came to bat in the bottom of the fourth.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">To begin the bottom of the fourth, Cunningham tripled to give the Bears their first hit and subsequently scored on a Nick Loftin sacrifice fly that
made it 5-1. Davion Downey later worked a one-out walk and Chase Wehsener followed with a single. Then, Ryan Bertelsman tripled to the wall in the left-center gap, scoring both baserunners and trimming the deficit to two at 5-3.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Dickens was able to settle in on the bump, striking out the side in the fifth inning before turning it over to Ryan Leckich, who punched out two
batters in the sixth to keep the score the same.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">The Bears were in business again in the bottom of the sixth as Loftin delivered a leadoff double, part of his two-hit day, but two Baylor strikeouts
and a deep fly out off the bat of Downey ended the threat.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Josh Bissonette doubled in the seventh to extend his on-base streak to 17 games, but the Bears couldn’t score him. He was one of four Baylor runners
left on base.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">In the top of the eighth, Rice added another run on an RBI double by Bradley Gneiting, but once again the Bears showed off some arm strength as Kyle
Harper and Bissonette teamed up to cut down a runner at the plate.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Rice’s Evan Kravetz earned his first win of the year after going 6.2 innings and allowing three runs on five hits with nine strikeouts. Thomas took
the loss for Baylor, his first of the season, and Kendal Jefferies picked up his first save for the Owls.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Baylor will take on Texas State Sunday at 11 a.m. at Minute Maid Park before returning home to Baylor Ballpark for an eight-game homestand.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><br>
<b>NOTES<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">*This was the first-ever meeting between Baylor and Rice under fourth-year head coach Steve Rodriguez. The Bears and the Owls last played in 2013.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">*The Bears recorded four extra-base hits, giving them at least one XBH in all 10 games this season.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">*Four Baylor pitchers combined to strikeout 12 batters, the ninth time this season that the Bears have totaled double-digit K’s.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">*Paul Dickens set a career high with five strikeouts out of the bullpen.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">*Ryan Leckich and Luke Boyd made their fifth appearances of the year, tying them with Jimmy Winston for the team lead.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">*Leckich punched out three batters, a season high, in two innings of relief.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">*Josh Bissonette has a team-leading 17-game on-base streak and a seven-game hitting streak.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">*Richard Cunningham hit his second triple of the season, a team high, to extend his on-base streak to six games.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">*Nick Loftin was 2-for-3, his team-leading seventh multi-hit game of the season.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">*Loftin picked up his fourth stolen base of the season.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">*Ryan Bertelsman tallied his third multi-RBI game of the season with two.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">*Andy Thomas started at catcher for the first time this season.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">*Kyle Harper made his first-career start in left field.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><br>
<b>STAT OF THE DAY</b><br>
<span style="background:white">3 – The Bears cut down three runners on the base paths: a Cunningham outfield assist, a 1-3-6 caught stealing and a Harper-Bissonette-Thomas relay that prevented a run from scoring.</span><br>
<br>
<b>QUOTE OF THE DAY</b><br>
<b><i>On gaining experience…</i></b><br>
“</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">The frustration our guys are feeling right now will make us better later in the season. Lots of guys are getting opportunities and it will give us great depth and experience once our injured
guys get back to healthy. </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">“</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">- Baylor head coach Steve Rodriguez</span></i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><br>
<br>
<b>WHAT'S NEXT</b><br>
<span style="background:white">The Bears will take on the Texas State Bobcats tomorrow at 11 a.m. to close out their time at the 2019 Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">For tickets to home games, visit: </span><u><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#00220F"><a href="https://baylorbears.com/sports/2018/9/11/tickets.aspx"><span style="color:#00220F">https://baylorbears.com/sports/2018/9/11/tickets.aspx</span></a></span></u><u><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">. </span></u><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">For
updates on the program follow @baylorbaseball on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><br>
<br>
</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">-baylorbears.com-</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black">___________________________________</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#006132">Rachel Caton</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#006132"> </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black">| Associate Sports Information Director</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black">Department of Athletics | Baylor University<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black">O: 254-710-3784</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black">C: 254-652-2061</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:4.0pt;color:black"> </span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.baylorbears.com/"><span style="font-size:4.0pt;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="127" height="26" style="width:1.3229in;height:.2708in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01D4D135.CEB53140" alt="cid:image001.png@01D3533B.25DEF160"></span></a><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:4.0pt;color:black"> </span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>