May 26, 2000

WACO, Texas - Southwest Texas State starter Blake Williams took the Baylor bats out of the game as the Bobcats shutout the Bears 6-0 on Friday night at the Baylor Ballpark in the first round of the 2000 Waco NCAA Baseball Regional.

The Bobcats (34-27) and Bears (45-16) traded zeroes for four innings before SWTS pushed across a run in the top of the fifth. First baseman Chris Micheles led off with a single and went to third on catcher Chris Seaman's double. After a strikeout, Baylor starter Chard Hawkins (11-5) hit the next batter to load the bases. Hawkins got the following hitter to pop-up for the second out. With two away, centerfielder Jason Washington singled to right to drive in the first run. Rightfielder Jaime Bubela tried for a sliding catch, but the ball tricked out of his glove. Bubela picked up the ball in time to throw out the second runner trying to score and hold the lead at 1-0.

Williams (11-5) went the distance for the Bobcats, striking out eleven. He allowed seven hits and five walks, but the Bears hit into one double play and had one runner caught stealing. Baylor also left 11 men on base, including a runner on second in the ninth.

The Bobcats added three runs in the eighth and two in the ninth to break the game open. Hawkins went 6.2 innings, striking out six and allowing just one run in the loss. The five runs in the last two innings came against reliever Justin Taylor in his 1.2 innings. Scott Lehnhoff finished the game for Baylor by getting the last two hits.

The Bears will now meet Florida in the loser's bracket game at 11 a.m. Saturday morning. Southwest Texas State will play San Jose State at 3 p.m. Baylor and San Jose State won the coin tosses and will be the home teams.