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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 2, 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 Clinches Series Over Oral Roberts
<br>
</span></b><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">Bears take 9-3 ballgame on Saturday behind Pendergrass’ three-hit, three-RBI day<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 (3-7) clinched the series over Oral Roberts (4-6) with a 9-3 win on Saturday at Baylor Ballpark in Waco.<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">Redshirt junior infielder Will Pendergrass collected three hits and drove in three to lead the Bears offensively. Redshirt freshman right-handed
pitcher Collin McKinney earned the win in his third-career start, while sophomore southpaw Ethan Calder picked up a four-inning save, the first of 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"><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 pounded out 11 hits and all nine starters reached base safely in the win, marking the second-consecutive game in which the Bears have eclipsed
double-digit hits and had all nine starters reach. The victory marked just the fourth time since the start of the 2022 season that Baylor has won the first two games of its weekend series.<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">Baylor wasted no time getting on the board as each of the first four batters reached safely in the bottom of the first, highlighted by fifth-year
senior infielder Mason Greer’s RBI single. Another run crossed the plate on a double play ball to give BU a 2-0 lead after the opening frame.
<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">Then in the second, junior catcher Cortlan Castle and sophomore outfielder Caleb Bergman combined to wreak havoc on the ORU defense, as Castle
reached on a fielder’s choice and advanced on an error. Then, Bergman beat out a bunt single and Castle came around to score on another miscue by the Golden Eagles, making it 3-0 in favor of the home team.<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">McKinney continued to put up zeroes and Baylor extended its lead to 5-0 in the fourth as junior infielder Hunter Teplanszky’s sacrifice fly
and Pendergrass’ RBI single plated runs. <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">ORU’s Holden Breeze tagged McKinney for a three-run homer in the fifth, the only blemish of the day from the BU pitching staff, to cut the
lead to 5-3. But the Bears responded in the sixth as Pendergrass doubled in a pair to make it 7-3.<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">A sacrifice fly from redshirt junior outfielder Enzo Apodaca in the seventh and junior outfielder Wesley Jordan’s first-career blast in the
eighth added some more insurance, as Calder kept the Eagles bats quiet and clinched the series win for the Bears.<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 clinched its first series victory of 2024. The win marked just the fourth time since the start of the 2022 campaign that BU has won
each of the first two games of its weekend series.<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 improved to 27-22 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 tallied 11 hits for their fourth double-digit hitting output 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 OF Enzo Apodaca picked up his fourth multi-hit game of the season and extended his team-leading hitting streak to nine games.<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 collected his fifth multi-hit effort 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 tied his career high with three hits and drove in three runs while extending his hit streak to five
games.<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 OF Wesley Jordan crushed his first-career home run.<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 freshman RHP Collin McKinney earned his first-career win after throwing five innings and allowing three earned runs on five hits
with two walks and four strikeouts.<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 LHP Ethan Calder collected his first-career save after going four scoreless innings and allowing just three hits with no walks.<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">• This was Calder’s second scoreless outing of the year and third appearance without allowing an earned run.<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">• Freshman INF Chase Womack made his collegiate debut and walked in his only plate appearance.<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">4 – Baylor has needed just four pitchers in its two wins over Oral Roberts this weekend. The two wins also marked just the fourth time since
the start of the 2022 season that BU has won each of the first two games of a weekend series.
<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 style="margin:0in"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">Head Coach Mitch Thompson</span></b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#212121"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33);font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: auto;text-align:start;widows: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px">
<i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">On today’s game…</span></i><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#212121"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33);font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: auto;text-align:start;widows: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">“We jumped on them early. We took a lead in the first inning and then we extended it. There’s only two out of the eight innings we swung the bat that we didn’t score. We applied some
pressure, took pretty good at-bats up and down the lineup and took advantage of the mistakes that they made. So, it was a really good day offensively.”</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#212121"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33);font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: auto;text-align:start;widows: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#212121"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33);font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: auto;text-align:start;widows: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px">
<i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">On Collin McKinney’s starting performance…</span></i><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#212121"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33);font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: auto;text-align:start;widows: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">“Collin [McKinney] had to overcome some things. We had a runner at second and third, one out. We shouldn’t have had runners at second and third. The one missed play, even though it’s
not an error, it’s a missed play. It’s something that we have to make. He showed maturity there. He had to overcome it. It was a strikeout, strikeout to get out of the inning. That was huge. He continues to work. There’s things he could do better, but he’s
a really nice arm. He has a good arm and he’s learning every day.”</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#212121"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33);font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: auto;text-align:start;widows: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#212121"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33);font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: auto;text-align:start;widows: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px">
<b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">Junior INF Will Pendergrass</span></b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#212121"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33);font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: auto;text-align:start;widows: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px">
<i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">On the difference maker in his offensive performance…</span></i><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#212121"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33);font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: auto;text-align:start;widows: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">“Just trying to get back to the basics and get a good pitch to hit. Staying with my approach, the one that the coaches and I have built throughout the week. Going to ground zero and
starting back over.”</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#212121"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33);font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: auto;text-align:start;widows: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#212121"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33);font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: auto;text-align:start;widows: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px">
<i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">On contributing as a team…</span></i><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#212121"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="elementtoproof" style="margin:0in;caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33);font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: auto;text-align:start;widows: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">“It’s been awesome. You’re seeing a bunch of guys get their first shot. They’re taking advantage of the opportunity. You can see the depth we have on this team. We just have to keep
going out there and getting after it tomorrow.”</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#212121"><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 (3-7) goes for the series sweep over Oral Roberts (4-6) on Sunday with a 1 p.m. first pitch at Baylor Ballpark.<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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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;text-align:center;background:white">
<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>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><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@01DA6CCD.0BD64C20" alt="signature_3570197506"></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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