April 18, 2006

Box Score

WACO - Baylor scored eight runs in the first three innings including a four-run third, while Texas State rallied but came up short in an 8-5 loss Tuesday at Baylor Ballpark.

Texas State (19-21) hit into two inning-ending double plays with runners in scoring position in a loss that snapped a three-game winning streak.

Baylor (23-15) jumped on top early, opening the bottom of the first with a lead-off double by Kevin Sevigny, who moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. Beamer Weems followed, lifting a deep fly ball into center that put Baylor up 1-0.

The Bears added to the lead in the second, first scoring on a double steal with runners at first and second. Bobcat catcher Dawid Bednarek's throw sailed into left field, enabling Matt Sodulak to score from third to give Baylor a 2-0 lead.

Kevin Russo, who stole second on the play, later crossed when Ben Booker slapped an infield single at Pat Crumpton, who made an errant throw to first that allowed the run to score.

Baylor added its final second-inning run on Sevigny's second double of the game, scoring Booker from second base to make the score 4-0.Pinch hitter Chase Gerdes came on with two outs in the third and lifted a fly ball into right field. Crumpton and Luke Cannon came charging at the ball, and after a collision the ball popped out of Crumpton's glove to result in a two-run triple that scored Zach Dillon and Sodulak to put Baylor up 6-0.

Booker then followed with a blast over the right field wall that made the score 8-0 in favor of the Bears through three innings.

Texas State got on the board in the top of the fourth, starting with a lead-off walk by pinch-hitter Elliott Babcock. Jared Bunn then singled to advance Babcock to third, and a chopped Heath Keel single into left scored the Bobcats first run to make the score 8-1.

Texas State would cut the Baylor lead to 8-2 when Crumpton ripped a single through the right side, catching Keel between second and third in a potential run-down. Baylor first baseman Tim Jackson missed second with his throw, which rolled into the outfield to score Bunn for the second Bobcat run.

Cassidy Dresch started the fifth inning with a one-out single to right center and moved to second when Kyle Jones was hit by a pitch. A passed ball moved both runners up one base, and Baylor pitcher Jeff Mandel uncorked a wild pitch to plate Dresch and make the score 8-3.

In the sixth, Keel ripped a one-out triple to the gap in right center, and Texas State cut the Baylor lead to 8-4 when Crumpton grounded out to second for an RBI.

Texas State added another run in the ninth as Thomas Field scored on a wild pitch, but Baylor reliever Nick Cassavechia got Cody Merrell to ground out to earn his third save of the year in the 8-5 win.

Keel led the Bobcats at the plate, finishing 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored, while Booker finished 3-for-4 at the plate to lead Baylor in a win that broke a four-game skid.

Texas State returns to the field Wednesday in a 6:30 contest against St. Edward's at Bobcat Field. The game was added to the Bobcat schedule last week to replace a rainout.