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<a name="_Hlk490052374"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS –
</span></b></a><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">March 1, 2024<br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">Baylor Baseball Soars Past ORU in 11-2 Victory
<br>
</span></b><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">Marriott turns in solid start behind 15-hit outburst; Hail shuts the door for Friday night win<br>
</span></i><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">For more information contact:</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"> Max Calderone, 254-265-1639,
</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><a href="mailto:Max_Calderone@Baylor.edu"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Max_Calderone@Baylor.edu</span></a></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">
</span><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"> </span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"><br>
<br>
</span><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt">WACO, Texas –
</span></b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt">Baylor baseball (2-7) picked up an 11-2 series-opening victory over Oral Roberts on Friday night at Baylor Ballpark in Waco behind a season-high 15 hits,
a solid start from Mason Marriott and 3.1 impressive scoreless innings of relief from Patrick Hail.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt">Marriott went 5.2 innings and allowed just one earned run on four hits, three walks and notched eight strikeouts in the no decision, minimizing
damage until a seven-run sixth inning powered the Bears past the Golden Eagles. Hail came on to shut the door, recording the final 10 outs and fanning five.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt">All nine starters recorded a hit and six different Bears drove in a run, including junior infielder Hunter Teplanszky who went 3-for-5 at the
dish and drove in three. Redshirt junior outfielder Enzo Apodaca blasted his second home run of the year, while redshirt junior infielder Will Pendergrass, senior infielder Daniel Altman, junior catcher Cortlan Castle and sophomore outfielder Caleb Bergman
all posted multi-hit efforts.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt">THE RUNDOWN<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt">ORU threatened early, loading the bases in the top of the second and even pushing across the game’s first run, though Marriott struck out the
side to prevent a crooked number. The Golden Eagles went ahead 2-0 after a two-out RBI double in the third, though that’s as large as their lead would get.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt">Marriott settled in after BU tied it in the bottom of the third, as Teplanszky came through with a two-run single. The junior righty retired
the ORU side in order in each of the fourth and fifth innings before handing the ball off to Hail, who stranded a pair of Golden Eagles baserunners upon entering from the bullpen.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt">In the bottom of the sixth, the Bears batted around as seven runs came across on seven hits and two ORU errors. Fifth-year senior infielder
Mason Greer got the scoring started with an RBI single, followed by Altman’s RBI double and a two-run single by redshirt junior outfielder Kade Fletcher. Apodaca reached on an error that allowed two more Baylor runs to score and Teplanszky capped off the rally
with a double to chase in Apodaca, making it 9-2.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt">Hail went on to scatter four hits over the next three frames and Baylor added two more runs in the bottom of the eighth off Apodaca’s solo
shot and an RBI double from Pendergrass to seal the series-opening victory.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt">HIGHLIGHTS</span></b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt">• Baylor picked up its first series-opening victory of the season.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt">• BU improved to 26-22 all-time against Oral Roberts.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt">• The Bears notched a season-high 15 hits in the win.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt">• Baylor put up seven runs in the sixth inning, marking the first time the Bears have scored seven or more runs in a single inning since scoring
eight runs in the sixth inning against Kansas State on March 19, 2023. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt">• All nine starters hit safely for the first time since April 16, 2022, vs. Kansas.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt">• BU pitchers struck out 13 batters, marking the sixth time this season and 26<sup>th</sup> time in the Mitch Thompson era that the Bears have
eclipsed double-digit punchouts.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt">• Redshirt junior OF Enzo Apodaca extended his team-leading hit streak to eight games after blasting his team-leading second home run of the
year.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt">• Junior INF Hunter Teplanszky matched his career high with three RBIs and posted his fourth multi-hit game of the year.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt">• Redshirt junior INF Will Pendergrass doubled twice to tie his career high and produced his second multi-hit game of 2024.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt">• Senior INF Daniel Altman recorded his third-straight game with a hit and an RBI.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt">• Redshirt junior OF Kade Fletcher drove in two runs for the first time in his career.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt">• Junior C Cortlan Castle notched his second multi-hit game of the season.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt">• Sophomore OF Caleb Bergman tallied his first multi-hit game of the year.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt">• Junior RHP Mason Marriott matched his season-long with 5.2 innings on the mound and struck out eight.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt">• Redshirt junior RHP Patrick Hail recorded his second scoreless outing and picked up his first win as a Bear.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt">STAT OF THE DAY<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt">15 – Baylor posted a season-high 15 hits on the night as all nine starters hit safely.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt">QUOTABLE<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt">Head Coach Mitch Thompson<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt">On Mason Marriott’s start…<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt">“The fun part about Mason was watching him compete with the bases loaded and nobody out. He got out of it and gave up only one run. It’s fun
to see him [do that] and then take it back out there and go the third, fourth, fifth and sixth [innings]. We just didn’t want to run him out of pitches too many. I’m real proud of his effort.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt">On the seven-run sixth inning…<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt">“We had the gates open up. [Cortlan] Castle gets a single, we steal second base, we get a push bunt from [Caleb] Bergman, now here we go. And
the swings got better. We slowed [the ORU pitcher] down a little bit and took good swings throughout the lineup.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt">Junior RHP Mason Marriott<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt">On working out of the jam and gaining confidence…<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt">“It was big for us, just being able to have confidence in myself, even though I was in a tough jam. Just keep attacking, keep doing what the
coaches are saying, throw the pitches that were called and just having faith in my stuff. I got more comfortable up there, so it was just kind of making a quick adjustment to get going.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt">Junior INF Hunter Teplanszky<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt">On seeing everyone in the lineup step up…<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt">“That was awesome to see. Those guys got their opportunity and they took advantage of it. As a group, in the dugout, you love to see that because
it gives everybody confidence. Everybody’s fired up for those guys.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt">WHAT’S NEXT<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt">Baylor (2-7) goes for the series win over Oral Roberts (4-5) on Saturday at Baylor Ballpark, with first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt">To stay up to date on all things Baylor baseball, follow the team on its official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts: @BaylorBaseball.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt"><br>
-BaylorBears.com-</span></i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">__________________________________</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:6.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"> </span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#154734;mso-ligatures:none">Max Calderone</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"> | Associate Director of Athletics
Communications (Baseball, Football)</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Department of Athletics | Baylor University</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">C: 254-265-1639</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"> </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://baylorbears.com/" title="http://baylorbears.com/"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="160" height="44" style="width:1.6666in;height:.4583in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01DA6C2B.EEA671D0" alt="signature_3142371750"></span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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