April 24, 2002
Box Score
WACO, Texas - Mike Huggins drove in two runs, including the go-ahead run in the Bears' half of the sixth that proved to be the game winner as 15th-ranked Baylor defeated Texas-Arlington 7-5 here Wednesday night.
Baylor (30-14) won its third straight game behind a strong performance out of the bullpen by junior Paul Thorp (3-1). Thorp relieved freshman Sean Walker in the sixth and retired all nine batters he faced en route to picking up the win.
Texas-Arlington (21-22) left-hander Mike Snapp (5-6) was handed the loss after giving up the single to Huggins in the sixth. Snapp pitched the fifth and sixth innings and gave up just the one run, but it proved to be the back-breaker. In total, the Mavericks used six pitchers on the evening.
Baylor jumped on Maverick starter Dave Engelson early. Huggins' first-inning double scored Paul Richmond to put the Bears on the board. David Murphy follwed that with a single up the middle that plated Chris Durbin and Huggins to give the Bears a 3-0 lead.
Texas-Arlington picked away at the lead, scoring in four consecutive innings. Baylor starter Trey Taylor only lasted two innings after he gave up three runs on three Maverick hits.
In the fifth, Texas-Arlington grabbed its first lead of the game. when first baseman Darrell Preston's single scored Jason Severson, giving the Mavericks a 5-4 lead.
The lead didn't last long as the Bears got that run back in their half of the fifth. Josh Ford's fielder's choice with the bases loaded brought home Huggins, tying the game at 5-5.
After Huggins' RBI single in the sixth, freshman Michael Griffin gave Thorp some insurance with a solo home run to left-center. The shot was Griffin's seventh of the year, that total leads the team.
Kyle Edens came in and pitched a perfect ninth for Baylor. The senior picked up his conference-leading 10th save of the season while striking out two.
The Bears will next be in action on Friday as they travel to Manhattan, Kan., for the beginning of a three-game series with the Kansas State Wildcats. First pitch on Friday is set for 3 p.m.
