May 9, 2006

Box Score

WACO - David Wood went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored, but Texas State was unable to overcome a 3-for-4 Zach Dillon outing and a three-run Baylor seventh in a 5-3 loss Tuesday at Baylor Ballpark.

Baylor (29-19) had three players post multiple hits, while Texas State (24-26) dropped its second straight in its final non-conference game of the 2006 season.

Kevin Sevigny went 2-for-3 in the game while Seth Fortenberry was 2-for-4 for Baylor, and Sevigny was one of two Bears with two RBIs, joined by Tim Jackson who drove in two in the game-winning rally.

Dawid Bednarek was the only other Bobcat to post multiple hits, finishing 2-for-3 without a trip across the plate. Heath Keel finished with the only other Bobcat RBI, as Texas State dropped its third of the season to Baylor after splitting two games in the 2005 season.

Baylor reliever Jeff Mandel tossed four innings of one-hit baseball to gain his first win of the year, while Justin Fiske gave up all three runs in the seventh to fall to 2-6 on the season. Nick Cassavechia picked up his sixth save of the season for Baylor.

Baylor led off the first inning with four-straight singles, including Sevigny's RBI single through the left side that scored Beamer Weems to put the Bears on top 1-0.

The Bobcats escaped the potential rally after a bunt single loaded the bases, as Mike Pankratz lined out to Thomas Field, who stepped on second for an unassisted double play, followed by an inning-ending ground ball to Cassidy Dresch at third.

Texas State responded in the top of the second, as Cody Merrell singled to lead off the frame and was hit to third by Wood. Merrell later crossed to tie the game at 1-1 on Keel's sacrifice fly to center.

The Bears regained the lead in the bottom of the second, with Kevin Russo reaching on a one-out single and moving to second on a Dillon two-out walk.

Sevigny put the Bears on top by lifting a soft single into left center, plating Russo to make the score 2-1.

Baylor threatened to score in the fifth, putting runners at first and third with two outs when Jackson tipped a grounder near the third-base line.

Bednarek raced out from behind the plate, fielded the ball and fired to first to end the inning and save a Baylor run.

Texas State used the defensive spark as momentum into the top of the sixth, as Luke Cannon drew a lead-off walk and later tied the game at 2-2 when Wood doubled down the left-field line, scoring Cannon from first.

Baylor posted the game's first crooked number after the seventh inning stretch, scoring three after loading the bases with a Dillon single, a Sevigny walk and Fortenberry's second bunt single of the game.

Fiske retired the next two batters, but Jackson gave Baylor the lead with two outs, singling to left center to score both Sevigny and Dillon. Fortenberry, who advanced to third on the play, later scored on a wild pitch to extend the Baylor lead to 5-2.

Texas State would pose one last threat in the ninth, loading the bases with two singles and a walk, but Cassavechia coaxed Pat Crumpton into a ground-ball double play, and the Bears recorded the final out on a grounder to short to end the game.

The Bobcats return to play Friday, opening a three-game series against Texas-Arlington at 6:30 p.m., and the weekend set continues with games Saturday and Sunday in SLC competition.