<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;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
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" style="word-wrap:break-word">
<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-align:right">
<a name="_Hlk490052374"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black">BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS –
</span></b></a><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black">March 20, 2023<br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;color:black">Baylor Baseball Rounds Out Homestand with Sam Houston<br>
</span></b><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;color:black">Bears in search of first three-game win streak of 2023
<br>
</span></i><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black">For more information contact:</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black"> Max Calderone, 254-265-1639,
</span><a href="mailto:Max_Calderone@Baylor.edu"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Max_Calderone@Baylor.edu</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black">
</span><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;color:black"> </span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black"><br>
<br>
</span><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="934" style="width:700.5pt;background:white">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="154" valign="top" style="width:115.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><img border="0" width="113" height="137" style="width:1.177in;height:1.427in" id="Picture_x0020_6" src="cid:image001.png@01D95B61.9B3FDF30" alt="BU Logo"></span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td width="295" valign="top" style="width:221.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">BAYLOR BEARS (8-12, 2-1 Big 12)</span></b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><br>
<b>Location:</b> Waco, Texas <br>
<b>Conference/Affiliation:</b> Big 12<br>
<b>Head Coach: </b><i><a href="https://baylorbears.com/sports/baseball/roster/coaches/mitch-thompson/1881"><span style="color:black">Mitch Thompson</span></a></i> (Fort Hays St., 1988)<br>
<br>
<a href="https://baylorbears.com/sports/baseball/roster"><span style="color:black">Roster</span></a> | <a href="https://baylorbears.com/sports/baseball/stats/2023"><span style="color:black">Stats</span></a> | <a href="https://baylorbears.com/documents/2023/3/20/BU_BSB_Game_Notes_2023_21_SHSU.pdf"><span style="color:black">Game
Notes (PDF)</span></a></span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td width="475" rowspan="2" valign="top" style="width:356.25pt;background:whitesmoke;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">BAYLOR</span></b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> (8-12, 2-1) vs<b> SAM HOUSTON </b>(13-8, 6-0)<br>
<b>March 21, 2023 • 6:30 p.m. CT</b><br>
<b>Waco, Texas • Baylor Ballpark (5,000)</b><br>
<br>
<b>LIVE STATS: </b><a href="https://www.statbroadcast.com/events/statbroadcast.php?t=1&gid=bay"><span style="color:black">BaylorStats.com</span></a><br>
<b>WATCH: </b>Baylor Baseball on Facebook Live<br>
<b>LISTEN: </b>Learfield / ESPN Central Texas 1660 AM & 92.3 FM<br>
<b><i>Talent:</i></b> <i>Derek Smith, Ryan Boyd</i><br>
<br>
<b>Baylor Social Media: </b></span><span style="color:black"><a href="https://twitter.com/BaylorBaseball" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="20" height="20" style="width:.2083in;height:.2083in" id="Picture_x0020_5" src="cid:image002.png@01D95B61.9B3FDF30" alt="auto twitter icon"></span></a></span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="color:black"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/baylorbaseball/?hl=en" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="20" height="20" style="width:.2083in;height:.2083in" id="Picture_x0020_4" src="cid:image003.png@01D95B61.9B3FDF30" alt="instagram png"></span></a></span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="color:black"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/BaylorBaseball/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="20" height="20" style="width:.2083in;height:.2083in" id="Picture_x0020_3" src="cid:image004.png@01D95B61.9B3FDF30" alt="Facebook PNG"></span></a></span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="154" valign="top" style="width:115.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><img border="0" width="152" height="152" style="width:1.5833in;height:1.5833in" id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image005.png@01D95B61.9B3FDF30" alt="SHSU"></span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td width="295" style="width:221.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">SAM HOUSTON BEARKATS (13-8, 6-0 WAC)</span></b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><br>
<b>Location: </b>Huntsville, Texas<br>
<b>Conference/Affiliation:</b> Western Athletic<br>
<b>Head Coach:</b> Jay Sirianni (Nebraska, 2001)<br>
<br>
<a href="https://gobearkats.com/sports/baseball/roster"><span style="color:black">Roster</span></a> | <a href="https://gobearkats.com/sports/baseball/stats/2023"><span style="color:black">Stats</span></a> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<b><span style="color:black">STORYLINES</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<b><span style="color:black">LEADING OFF</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span style="color:black">• Baylor Baseball rounds out its 14-game homestand with a Tuesday night tilt against Sam Houston, then hits the road for the first time in a month to visit No. 15 Oklahoma State in Stillwater, Okla.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span style="color:black">• Currently, BU is tied for first place in the Big 12 after winning its conference-opening series against K-State.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span style="color:black">• Baylor, Oklahoma and Texas Tech each won two of three over their respective opponents to start Big 12 play.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span style="color:black">• BU is coming off its best week of the 2023 season, going 3-1 with a two-hit shutout victory over Rice in the midweek contest, then taking two of three from K-State over the weekend.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span style="color:black">• The Bears are 8-0 this season when scoring six or more runs, 7-0 when out-hitting their opponents and 7-0 when leading the ballgame after six innings.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span style="color:black">• Sunday's come-from-behind victory was the first time BU had overcome a deficit of four or more runs since May 19, 2022, when the Bears erased an eight-run deficit for a 13-11 victory over Oklahoma State.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span style="color:black">• Freshman INF <i><a href="https://baylorbears.com/sports/baseball/roster/kolby-branch/12083"><span style="color:black">Kolby Branch</span></a></i> has reached base in all 20 of Baylor's games so far this season.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span style="color:black">• Sophomore C <i><a href="https://baylorbears.com/sports/baseball/roster/cortlan-castle/11480"><span style="color:black">Cortlan Castle</span></a></i> (6-for-11, 2B, 2 RBI), Junior INF/OF <i><a href="https://baylorbears.com/sports/baseball/roster/cole-posey/12079"><span style="color:black">Cole
Posey</span></a></i> (8-for-16, 3 2B, 3 RBI) and Junior OF <i><a href="https://baylorbears.com/sports/baseball/roster/hunter-simmons/12080"><span style="color:black">Hunter Simmons</span></a></i> (8-for-15, 7 RBI) each had productive weeks at the plate with
batting averages above .500.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span style="color:black">• Junior righty's <i><a href="https://baylorbears.com/sports/baseball/roster/hambleton-oliver/11502"><span style="color:black">Hambleton Oliver</span></a></i> and <i><a href="https://baylorbears.com/sports/baseball/roster/cole-stasio/11509"><span style="color:black">Cole
Stasio</span></a></i> each picked up multi-inning saves in back-to-back days against K-State. </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span style="color:black">• Stasio is riding a 5.2-inning scoreless streak, while Oliver hasn't allowed an earned run in his last 7.1 IP.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<b><span style="color:black">BIG RIG EARNS BIG PRAISE</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span style="color:black">• Fourth-year junior RHP <i><a href="https://baylorbears.com/sports/baseball/roster/will-rigney/11505"><span style="color:black">Will Rigney</span></a></i> earned his first-career awards of any kind after being named the Big 12 Pitcher
of the Week and one of 13 <i>Collegiate Baseball Newspaper</i> National Players of the Week on Monday.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span style="color:black">• Rigney was brilliant across two outings last week, throwing five perfect innings and striking out 11 of the 15 batters he faced. He also earned two wins, including the first by a BU starter this season.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span style="color:black">• In just his second appearance since coming back from his third season-ending injury of his collegiate career, Rigney made the midweek start against Rice last Tuesday and worked two innings with five strikeouts, earning the win as
part of BU's two-hit shutout over the Owls.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span style="color:black">• Then, in relief on Sunday against K-State, Rigney out-did himself by going three innings with six punchouts, retiring all nine he faced in order.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span style="color:black">• This year, he boasts an unblemished 0.00 ERA across 6.0 IP. 13 of his 18 recorded outs have been K's. Opposing batters are hitting just .100 against him.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span style="color:black">• Rigney collected Baylor's 43rd Big 12 Pitcher of the Week honor all-time, and is the eighth Bear in program history, and first since 2012, to collect national praise from CBN.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<b><span style="color:black">ADD IT TO THE K-COUNTER</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span style="color:black">• The Bears have eclipsed double-digit strikeouts on the mound in 15 of their 20 games so far this season.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span style="color:black">• BU has punched out at least 13 opposing hitters in nine games this year.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span style="color:black">• Baylor leads the Big 12 and ranks 10th nationally with 226 strikeouts. </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span style="color:black">• BU's 11.18 strikeouts per nine innings also leads the conference and ranks 15th nationally.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<b><span style="color:black">SERIES HISTORY VS SAM HOUSTON / BY THE NUMBERS</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span style="color:black">• Baylor leads the all-time series with Sam Houston, 68-48.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span style="color:black">• The Bears and the Bearkats split last year's two meetings, though BU has won each of the last three matchups over SHSU in Waco.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span style="color:black">• Baylor is 6-4 against Sam Houston over the last 10 contests.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span style="color:black">• BU is 3-1 in midweek games this season, and 3-1 against teams from the state of Texas.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<b><span style="color:black">PROBABLE STARTERS</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span style="color:black">• Tuesday, March 21 • 6:30 p.m. • <b>RHP <i><a href="https://baylorbears.com/sports/baseball/roster/jared-matheson/12088"><span style="color:black">Jared Matheson</span></a></i> (0-0, 5.25 ERA)</b> vs. LHP Marshall Wales (0-2, 5.25
ERA)</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<b><span style="color:black">BROADCAST INFORMATION</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span style="color:black">• Tuesday's game will have a one-camera stream broadcast via Baylor Baseball on Facebook Live.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span style="color:black">• The FB stream will be simulcast with Baylor's home radio feed, featuring Derek Smith and Ryan Boyd on the call.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span style="color:black">• Fans can tune in to the home radio broadcast on ESPN Central Texas 1660 AM/92.3 FM.<br>
<br>
<br>
To stay up to date on all things Baylor baseball, follow the team on its official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts: @BaylorBaseball.<br>
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-align:center;background:white">
<i><span style="color:black">-BaylorBears.com-</span></i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;color:black">__________________________________</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:6.5pt;color:black"> </span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:#154734">Max Calderone</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black"> | Associate Director of Athletics Communications (BSB, FB, EQ)</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black">Department of Athletics | Baylor University</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black">C: 254-265-1639</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:7.5pt;color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://baylorbears.com/" title="http://baylorbears.com/"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="160" height="44" style="width:1.6666in;height:.4583in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image006.png@01D95B61.9B3FDF30" alt="signature_793926941"></span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>