April 15, 2005
Box Score
LAWRENCE, Kan. - Baylor built a 6-0 lead through its first five at bats and held on for an 8-4 victory Friday night against Kansas at Hoglund Park in the Big 12 Conference series opener. The Bears (23-13, 10-3) have now won five straight Big 12 games for the first time since 2002. Baylor also has won six straight against Kansas (24-16, 3-7).
Kevin Sevigny got the scoring started for the Bears in the second, blasting a solo home run to left field. In the third, Baylor pushed its lead to 5-0 with four runs on six hits, including four doubles. Kyle Reynolds, Zach Dillon, Mike Pankratz and Sevigny each produced an RBI during the inning.
The Bears tacked on another run in the fifth as Reid Brees and Dillon opened the inning with consecutive doubles.
Baylor starter Trey Taylor carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning; however, Jared Schweitzer led off the inning with a bunt single down the third-base line. John Allman followed with a single through the left side, and Ryne Price walked to load the bases. Kansas then plated a pair of runs on two wild pitches. Taylor got out of the jam by deflecting a Ritchie Price liner to shortstop Paul Witt, who started an inning-ending double play.
Kansas pulled even closer with two unearned runs in the sixth. After a Sean Richardson single and a Schweitzer double, both with two outs, Baylor reliever Ryan LaMotta induced an infield popup from pinch hitter Travis Dunlap. However, the ball popped out of third baseman Kevin Russo's glove, allowing both base runners to score.
Baylor did not allow Kansas to get any closer, though, pulling away with a run in the eighth and another in the ninth.
Taylor lasted 5.2 innings and allowed four runs, two earned, on four hits and three walks with four strikeouts. LaMotta pitched the final 3.1 innings without allowing a run or a hit with four strikeouts for his second save of the season.
Kansas starter Mike Zagurski was touched for seven runs on 13 hits and two walks with five strikeouts in 7.0-plus innings; he faced one batter in the eighth.
Eight of nine starters collected at least one hit for the Bears, who finished with 14 hits on the night as a team. Sevigny led the way, going 3-for-3 with two RBI. Ford, Brees, Dillon and Russo all had two hits each, as well. The Bears had seven doubles on the night.
Baylor and Kansas continue their three-game series Saturday at 6 p.m. CDT. The Bears send right-hander Mark McCormick (4-2) to the mound, opposite Jayhawk southpaw Sean Land (3-3).
NOTES: Baylor leads the all-time series 26-3, including a 10-3 advantage in games played at Lawrence. The Bears are 21-3 against the Jayhawks since the inception of the Big 12 Conference in 1997. ... Ford extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a first-inning single. He has reached base safely in 31 consecutive games and in 36 of 37 games this season. ... Griffin's first-inning at bat was the 386th of his career in a Big 12 game, passing Chris Durbin (2000-03) for first all-time at Baylor. ... Griffin also played his 225th career game Friday, tying Marty Crawford (1993-96) and Eric Nelson (1997-99) for fifth in Baylor history. ... Griffin's third-inning double was the 59th of his career, tying Matt Williams (1998-01) for fourth all-time at Baylor. ... The Bears have eight home runs in their last seven games. ... LaMotta has not allowed a run in 12 consecutive appearances and in 16 of 18 appearances this season. LaMotta currently has a streak of 26.1 consecutive scoreless innings. ... Dillon extended his hitting streak to seven games, a tie of his career long established earlier this season. ... Baylor improves to 7-3 this season in games started by Taylor. The Bears are 14-4 in Taylor's last 18 starts and 29-15 in his 44 career starts. ... Sevigny tied his career high with three hits. Of note, Sevigny has 10 hits on the season and seven were for extra bases. ... The Bears improve to 21-4 when the starting pitcher goes at least 5.0 innings. ... Baylor is now 17-1 when scoring first, 8-1 when leading after two innings, 11-0 after three, 13-0 after four, 15-0 after five, 19-0 after six and 20-0 when leading after six innings or later. ... The Bears are 6-4 on Friday, including a 4-1 mark in Big 12 play.
