April 26, 2003

Box Score

LAWRENCE, Kan. - Baylor bounced back from a tough loss Friday to beat Kansas 11-3 Saturday afternoon, evening the series at one game apiece.

The Bears (29-17, 10-10 Big 12) took advantage of five Kansas (32-17, 7-10 Big 12) errors and pounded out 11 hits, continuing their offensive rampage. Solid pitching from starter Sean Walker (6-4) and relievers Ryan LaMotta and Tyler Bullock held the Jayhawks' offense at bay for most of the day.

In similar fashion to Friday night's loss, the Bears got the first two men on in the top of the first as Chris Durbin and David Murphy started the game with back-to-back singles. This time, however, Ross Bennett and Michael Griffin each came through with RBI singles to put the Bears on top 2-0 after one half inning.

Kansas cut the lead in half in the third. Walker walked the first batter in the inning, nine-hole hitter Matt Baty, and the Jayhawks sacrificed him to second with the first out. Ritchie Price drove in Baty with a single as Kansas got on the board with a single run in the inning.

The Bears got that run back in the fifth, taking advantage of a two-base error by Kansas third baseman Travis Metcalf. After Josh Ford was hit by a pitch to open the inning, pinch-hitter Zach Dillon grounded into a fielders choice, forcing Ford at second. Dillon took third when Metcalf booted a hot shot by Michael Griffin, allowing the ball to roll into foul territory down the left field line, and scored on a groundout by Mark Saccomanno to up the Baylor lead to 3-1.

A six-spot in the top of the sixth upped the score to 9-1, Baylor. The Bears batted around in the frame, taking advantage of two Kansas errors. Trey Webb, Durbin and Dillon each doubled in the inning; Dillon's two-base hit also drove in two runs. Griffin and Saccomanno each hit long sacrifice flies to bring home runs, and a pair of walks factored in the scoring as well.

A two-out, two-run homer by left fielder Casey Spanish cut the Baylor lead to 9-3 in the bottom of the sixth, and when Walker walked the next batter, head coach Steve Smith brought in Ryan LaMotta from the pen. LaMotta escaped the jam with no further damage.

Baylor got those two runs back in the seventh, as Durbin doubled and scored on a single by Dillon. A two-out error by the Jayhawks' new third baseman, Kyle Kilgo, allowed the Bears to add one more run for an 11-3 lead.

Walker lasted 5 2/3 innings, allowing three runs (all earned) on six hits. The sophomore struck out three but walked five, tying his career high. LaMotta went the next 2 1/3 innings, allowing only one hit and no runs. Tyler Bullock struck out two of the three batters he faced in pitching a 1-2-3 ninth to close out the game.

Kansas starter Chris Smart (1-3) took the loss, allowing five runs (three earned) in five-plus innings. Four other Jayhawk pitchers followed, but the damage was done.

Durbin and Murphy each scored three runs, while Dillon led the Bears with a career-high three RBI off the bench.

NOTES: Murphy extended his career-best hitting streak to 14 games Saturday... The streak is the longest on the team this season and ties for the ninth-longest in school history... Durbin's double in the sixth inning was the 117th extra-base hit of his career, breaking a tie with Jon Topolski and making Durbin the school's all-time recordholder in that category... Dillon took over at DH for Ross Bennett in the fifth inning; Bennett left the game after a tough collision at home plate in the third inning.