March 16, 2002

Box Score

WACO, Texas - The 10th-ranked Baylor baseball scored six runs in the bottom of the eighth, and Zane Carlson returned to form by closing out the game as the Bears beat Kansas 15-9 Saturday afternoon at Baylor Ballpark.

For the second straight day, it took a last at-bat offensive effort to push Baylor (16-6, 6-2 Big 12) past Kansas (10-5, 1-4 Big 12). Friday night, Chris Durbin's grand-slam-turned-single gave the Bears a come-from-behind 5-3 win. On Saturday, Baylor put up a six-spot in the eighth to break a 9-9 tie.

With one out and runners on second and third in the eighth, Mike Huggins doubled to left center, putting Baylor on top 11-9. Later in the inning, Chris Durbin drove in Huggins with a sacrifice fly and Michael Griffin connected for a three-run homer to give Carlson (4-0) some breathing room.

Baylor scored all six runs in the eighth off Kansas reliever Tom Gorzelanny (0-2), who had shutout the Bears for two innings before tiring in the eighth.

Carlson picked up the win after throwing 2 1/3 shutout, no-hit innings in relief. He was the third Baylor pitcher of the day, following starter Jared Theodorakos and Paul Thorp. Theodorakos lasted only 3 2/3 innings, allowing five runs on seven hits. Thorp fared little better, hurling three innings and giving up four runs.

Huggins (four RBI) and Griffin (six RBI) combined to drive in 10 of the Bears' 15 runs on the day. Griffin's six runs batted in were the most by a Baylor player since Durbin drove in six against Texas on April 22, 2001.

Durbin and Paul Richmond led Baylor with three hits apiece, Huggins, Griffin, David Murphy and Eric Errante each had two hits in the game.

Baylor took advantage of four Jayhawk errors in the game, scoring six unearned runs, including the final three of the eighth inning.

The Bears have now claimed 15 straight games from the Jayhawks and are 20-2 all-time against Kansas. The two teams play game three of the series Sunday at 1 p.m. at Baylor Ballpark.