March 6, 2001

Box Score

WACO, Texas - Freshman David Murphy belted his first career home run, a grand slam, and sparked the Baylor baseball team to a 16-4 win over Houston Tuesday night at Baylor Ballpark.

With the win, the Bears improve to 15-5 on the season, while the Cougars fall to 6-13. Baylor starter Jared Theodorakos (3-1) scattered three runs on four hits over five innings to earn the win. Houston starter Keith Whatley (2-1) gave up nine runs on seven hits in two innings of work to take his first loss of the season.

Baylor jumped on the board in the bottom of the first when Tim Hartshorn led off with a triple to center field and Trevor Mote followed with a double to left to score Hartshorn. Kelly Shoppach singled in Mote to put the Bears up 2-0.

After scoring three runs in the second inning, Baylor racked up five runs in the third, keyed by Murphy's first-pitch, bases-loaded home run to right field. The Bears were up 10-0 heading into the fourth inning.

Houston fought off a shutout with a home run by Chris Snyder in the fourth. It was the first home run the Baylor pitching staff has given up since the first game of the season, a 1-0 loss to Rice. The Cougars also put up a pair of runs in the fifth and a run in the sixth to cut the Bears' lead to 11-4.

The Baylor scoring barrage continued with a run in the sixth, three runs in the seventh and a run in the eighth. Shoppach led the team at the plate, going four for five with two doubles and four RBI.

Baylor returns to action Wednesday night with a non-conference game against UT-Arlington. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at Baylor Ballpark.