March 26, 2009
Box Score | Quotes
WACO, Texas - Shaver Hansen's first-inning, two-run homer gave No. 8 Baylor an early lead, and the Bears pulled away with a nine-run sixth inning en route to a 15-4 victory over 16th-ranked TCU in Thursday night's midweek game at Baylor Ballpark. Baylor (15-5) moved to 5-3 this season against ranked opponents, including a 3-0 mark against ranked opponents at home.
Ben Booker led off the fifth with a double and later scored on Gregg Glime's first-and-third RBI sacrifice bunt that pushed the Bears' lead to 3-0. Baylor then sent 13 batters to the plate in the nine-run sixth, collecting six hits and three walks with one hit batsman.
TCU (14-7) broke up the shutout with a run in the top of the seventh, which the Bears answered on Chris Slater's pinch-hit RBI single in the bottom of the frame. The Frogs got another run in the eighth, but Dan Evatt's two-run homer in the bottom of the inning pushed Baylor's lead back to 15-2. TCU capped the scoring in the top of the ninth on Brance Rivera's two-run single.
Willie Kempf (1-1) earned the victory in a predetermined 2.0-inning start; he retired all six batters he faced with two strikeouts. Jon Ringenberg scattered two singles with two strikeouts over 2.0 scoreless innings. Craig Fritsch, Trent Blank, Max Garner, Joey Hainsfurther and Ross Speed tossed 1.0 inning each to close out the game on the mound for Baylor.
TCU starter Steven Maxwell (2-2) took the loss after allowing three runs on six hits and a walk with three strikeouts over 5.0 innings. Both of Maxwell's losses this season have come against Baylor.
Each Baylor starter had at least one hit. Hansen finished the night 2-for-2 with two walks, a sacrifice fly, three RBI and three runs. Booker was 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI, while Raynor Campbell also was 2-for-3. Evatt came off the bench to go 2-for-4 with four RBI.
Baylor returns to action this weekend, hosting Kansas State for a three-game Big 12 Conference series at Baylor Ballpark. The Bears and Wildcats meet Friday at 6:30 p.m. CDT, Saturday at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday at 1:30 p.m. Baylor sends right-hander Kendal Volz (2-1, 2.81 ERA) to the mound, while Kansas State counters with right-hander A.J. Morris (6-0, 0.48 ERA).
NOTES: Baylor leads the all-time series 135-105, including a 69-41 advantage in games played in Waco. The Bears are 16-18 against the Horned Frogs during head coach Steve Smith's tenure. €¦ Baylor improved to 5-0 this season in midweek games and 11-1 in night games. €¦ Aaron Miller extended his career-long hitting streak to 16 games with a two-run double during the Bears' nine-run sixth. Miller has reached safely in each game this season. €¦ Lucas Hileman also extended his career-long hitting streak to eight games with a third-inning single. Hileman has hit safely in each game of his career. €¦ Dustin Dickerson (seven games), Campbell (four games), Evatt (three games), and Glime (three games) all extended hitting streaks, as well.
