Feb. 27, 2005

Box Score

TEMPE, Ariz. - Seth Fortenberry provided a tie-breaking RBI double and Kyle Reynolds added a two-out, two-run single in the top of the 10th as Baylor's eighth-ranked baseball team overcame an early 5-0 deficit to defeat Arizona State 8-7 in Sunday's series finale at Packard Stadium.

It marked the first time since 2003 that Baylor (6-4) won a game when trailing after seven innings. With the win, the Bears salvaged the final game of the three game series at Arizona State (8-10).

With the bases loaded and one out in the top of the ninth, Josh Ford hit a ball up the middle that caromed off the pitchers glove and rolled to ASU second baseman Joe Persichina. The Devils were able to get Ford at first, but Fortenberry, who led off the inning with a single, scored on the play to tie the game at 5-5.

Baylor then took the lead in the top of the 10th with three runs on two hits and two ASU errors. Fortenberry put the Bears ahead with an RBI double, and Reynolds pushed the lead to 8-5 with a two-out, two-run single.

Reynolds' hit proved vital as the Sun Devils rallied for a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning, both coming on Rocky Laguna's pinch-hit two-run triple. However, Abe Woody got Eric Sogard to ground out to end the game and record his third save of the season.

Arizona State took an early lead with four runs on two hits and a pair of walks in the first inning, capped by a Willy Fox three-run homer. The Sun Devils added an unearned run in the second. However, the Bears started chipping away in the top of the third, scoring two runs. Baylor starter Mark McCormick settled down from there, and the Bears scored another two runs in the fifth on a Reynolds' two-run homer.

Reynolds finished the day 3-for-5 with three RBI. Kevin Russo, Fortenberry and Michael Griffin score two runs each.

Ryan LaMotta picked up the win for the Bears, allowing two runs on three hits in 3.1 innings of work as he improved to 2-0 on the season.

Baylor returns to action Tuesday night, traveling to San Antonio, Texas, for a 6 p.m. game at UT-San Antonio.