May 25, 2001

Box Score

HOUSTON, Texas - Justin Taylor went the distance and gave up just one run on five hits as the Baylor baseball team defeated Houston 7-1 Friday night in the first round of the NCAA Regional tournament at Rice's Reckling Park.

With the win, the Bears snap a three game losing streak and improve to 36-22, while the Cougars fall to 29-29 on the season.

Baylor chipped away at Houston starter Brad Sullivan (6-7), scoring a run in the second and one in the third before putting up three runs in the fourth.

In the fourth, David Murphy ripped a double to the right corner and scored on a single by Mike Huggins. A single to right field by Trevor Mote plated Huggins. Mote advanced on a single by Tim Hartshorn and came in on an error by the center fielder.

Taylor (8-2) held Houston to just two hits into the seventh inning, when Huyong Cho smacked a single to left field. The Baylor defense, which was strong all night, came up with a huge double play to end the half inning. Chris Snyder drilled a shot over second base, for which Mark Saccomanno made a diving catch and backhanded before flipping it to Mote at second base.

In the seventh, Chris Durbin led off with a single to right field and advanced on an error by the shortstop and a fly out to center. With two outs and runners at first and third, Durbin stole home to extend the Bears' lead to 6-0.

The Cougars managed to score a run in the eighth, but Mote capped off a three-for-four night with a solo home run to left field in the bottom of the inning.

Of note, Durbin extended his hitting streak to 15 games. It is the second-longest streak put together by a Baylor player this season. The win is the Bears' first in NCAA tournament play since the 1999 Super Regional.

Baylor will face top-seeded Rice Saturday at 3 p.m. at Reckling Park.