March 13, 2002

Box Score

ARLINGTON, Texas - The 10th-ranked Baylor baseball team jumped on Texas-Arlington early and hung on for dear life Wednesday, pulling out an 8-7 win at Allan Saxe Stadium.

The Bears (14-6) led 8-2 after three-and-a-half innings, but the Mavericks (7-11) refused to fold. The first two UTA pitchers combined to give up eight runs in the first 3 1/3 innings, but four other Mavs together shut down the Bears on one hit over the final five innings.

Sean Walker made his first collegiate start for the Bears and lasted 4 1/3 innings, allowing five runs (only two earned) on seven hits. Zane Carlson (3-0) followed Walker and picked up the win, as he was the only Baylor pitcher on the day to go unscored upon. Carlson finished out the sixth and left with an 8-5 lead.

Trey Taylor started the seventh and gave up a pair of runs. After a two-out single off Taylor brought the tying run to the plate in the eighth, head coach Steve Smith brought in closer Kyle Edens. The senior reliever gave up a double to the first batter he faced, cutting the lead to 8-7, but induced the next batter to ground out to escape the jam. Edens retired the side in order in the ninth for his sixth save.

UTA starter Dave Engelson (0-1) lasted only two innings, giving up four runs on five hits.

After the explosive start to the game, only two Bears collected more than one hit on the day. Ross Bennett continued his torrid streak, knocking out three hits in four at-bats and driving in four of the Bears' eight runs from the leadoff spot.

The Bears return home this weekend for a three-game set with Big 12 foe Kansas. Game one starts Friday at 5:30 p.m., allowing Baylor fans to attend the game at Baylor Ballpark before trekking across the parking lot to the Ferrell Center to watch the Lady Bears' NCAA Tournament first-round game against Bucknell. The Bears and Jayhawks square off again Saturday at 3 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.