April 16, 2005
Box Score
LAWRENCE, Kan. - No. 12 Baylor scored in six of nine innings and pounded 17 hits en route to a 13-2 defeat of Kansas in the second game of a three-game Big 12 Conference series Saturday night at Hoglund Ballpark. With the win, the Bears (24-13, 11-3) clinch the series victory against the Jayhawks (24-17, 3-8) after an 8-4 victory Friday night.
By virtue of Baylor's victory and Oklahoma State's 6-4 defeat of Missouri (27-8, 8-3) earlier Saturday, the Bears move into sole possession of first place in the Big 12 standings. Baylor has won six consecutive Big 12 games for the first time since a seven-game streak in 2001.
After a scoreless first inning, the Bears scored at least one run in each of the next four innings. Kevin Russo got the scoring started for Baylor with an RBI single in the second. The Bears added three runs in the third thanks to a Kyle Reynolds RBI bunt single, a passed ball and a Reid Brees sacrifice fly.
A Michael Griffin RBI single in the top of the fourth pushed Baylor's lead to 5-0. Kansas responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning; however, Baylor quickly answered with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth on back-to-back RBI singles from Brees and Zach Dillon.
The Bears added three runs in the top of the eighth on RBI hits from Kevin Sevigny, Paul Witt and Reynolds. The Bears capped their scoring with three runs in the top of the ninth on a Russo two-run double followed by a Sevigny RBI triple.
Baylor starter Mark McCormick (5-2) allowed two runs on four hits and three walks with seven strikeouts in 6.0 innings. Jeff Mandel pitched the seventh inning and Tyler Bullock pitched the final two innings to close the game.
Eight of nine Baylor starters had at least one hit and seven had at least two hits. Russo finished 3-for-4 with two runs and three RBI, and Griffin was 3-for-6 with a run and an RBI. Brees was 2-for-2 with a walk, two runs and two RBI, and Sevigny scored twice and drove in two.
Kansas starter Sean Land (3-4) lasted only 3.0 innings and was touched for four runs, three earned, on four hits and two walks with two strikeouts. The Jayhawks used six pitchers on the day.
Baylor and Kansas conclude their three-game series Sunday at 1 p.m. CDT. The Bears send southpaw Cory VanAllen (6-2) to the mound, opposite Jayhawk right-hander Kodiak Quick (6-3).
NOTES: Baylor leads the all-time series 27-3, including an 11-3 advantage in games played at Lawrence. The Bears are 22-3 against the Jayhawks since the inception of the Big 12 Conference in 1997 and have won seven straight meetings. ... Josh Ford extended his hitting streak to 13 games with a seventh-inning single. He has reached base safely in 32 consecutive games and in 37 of 38 games this season. ... Dillon extended his hitting streak to eight games, a career long. ... Reynolds extended his hitting streak to four games. ... Baylor improves to 8-2 this season in games started by McCormick. The Bears are 10-3 in McCormick's last 13 starts and 23-12 in his 35 career starts. ... The Bears improve to 22-4 when the starting pitcher goes at least 5.0 innings. ... Baylor is now 18-1 when scoring first, 9-1 when leading after two innings, 12-0 after three, 14-0 after four, 16-0 after five, 20-0 after six and 21-0 when leading after six innings or later. ... The Bears are 7-3 on Saturday, 4-1 in Big 12 play.
