Feb. 28, 2003

Box Score

IRVINE, Calif. - The eighth-ranked Baylor Bears won their seventh straight game Friday night, beating UC-Irvine 4-0 at Anteater Ballpark.

Baylor (10-3) has now won 10 of its last 11 games after starting the year 0-2. Friday night's game marked the first time in program history that Baylor has faced UCI (4-9).

The Bears recorded back-to-back shutouts for the first time since the 2000 season. Baylor shut out Iowa State 6-0 and 4-0 in consecutive games April 14 and April 15, 2000; the latter date was Kyle Evans' no-hitter against the Cyclones.

Baylor opened the first inning with a single run. Chris Durbin singled and moved to third on David Murphy's subsequent single. Josh Ford, the Bears' No. 3 hitter, grounded into a double play as Durbin crossed the plate for a 1-0 lead.

Baylor added another run in the fourth on three straight singles by Ross Bennett, Michael Griffin and Reid Brees and an RBI groundout by Trey Webb. Ford doubled in Murphy for the Bears' third run in the fifth, and an interference call on an attempted pickoff play with two outs in the sixth brought home Brees from third as Baylor took a 4-0 lead.

Baylor starter Steven White (2-0) lasted seven innings, allowing no runs on five hits. On the heels of consecutive nine-strikeout games, White fanned eight Anteaters and walked only two (the first two batters of the game).

Freshman Abe Woody continued his success out of the bullpen, striking out six batters in his two innings of work. Woody walked one and hit a batter, but did not allow a hit.

Brees, making his first collegiate start, was 2-for-3 on the night as the Bears' designated hitter. Murphy and Kyle Reynolds each had two hits, as well.

With eight strikeouts on the night, White moved into a tie for seventh place on the Baylor career strikeout list with Brett Bergman (224, 1995-98).

The Bears and Anteaters square off again Saturday in Irvine, beginning at 8 p.m. CT.