March 28, 2009
Box Score | Quotes | 
WACO, Texas -- Logan Verrett notched seven strikeouts over 6.0 innings and became the first Baylor freshman to start his career 7-0 since 1985 as the eighth-ranked Bears edged Kansas State 3-2 in Saturday night's Big 12 Conference game at Baylor Ballpark. Baylor (16-6, 4-4) moved to 9-1 this season in one-run games, winning its eighth consecutive one-run affair.
Verrett and Kansas State ace A.J. Morris entered the weekend as the nation's only six-game winners. After Morris won Friday night's series opener, Verrett matched him as the nation's only seven-game winners. Verrett is Baylor's first freshman to win seven games since Ryan LaMotta was 7-3 in 2003. The last Baylor freshman to win each of his first seven decisions was Ted Richardson, who finished the 1985 season with a 7-0 record.
Kansas State (21-6, 2-3) scored a run on three hits in the top of the third. Adam Muenster singled with one out, stole second and scored on Nick Martini's two-out single.
That lead was short-lived, though, as the Bears answered with a single spot in the bottom of the inning. Lucas Hileman and Dustin Dickerson opened the inning with consecutive singles. After Aaron Miller was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Adam Hornung plated Hileman with a sacrifice fly.
Baylor took the lead in the fourth on two hits and a Kansas State error. Raynor Campbell led off with a single, and Brooks Pinckard followed with a bunt single. However, Kansas State pitcher Lance Hoge's attempt to get Pinckard at first sailed down the right-field line, allowing Campbell to score and Pinckard to reach third. Landis Ware followed with a sacrifice fly to push the Bears' lead to 3-1.
Kansas State got a run in the sixth when Drew Biery drew a one-out walk and scored on a Jordan Cruz RBI double.
That was as close as the Wildcats would get, though. Miller faced the minimum over the final 3.0 innings for his second save of the season. He recorded three strikeouts and did not allow a hit. The lone base runner Miller allowed - a leadoff Justin Bloxom walk in the eighth - was erased on a double play.
Hoge (3-2) took the loss for Kansas State, allowing three runs - only one of which was earned - on four hits and two walks with five strikeouts over 4.0 innings.
Shaver Hansen was 2-for-3 with a double and a sacrifice to lead the Bears at the plate. Martini was 2-for-3 with a walk for Kansas State, while Muenster was 3-for-4.
Miller was 0-for-1 with a walk and was hit by a pitch twice; that ended his career-long, 17-game hitting streak that was the longest in the Big 12 this season. However, Miller continued his on-base streak; he has reached safely in each game this season, a 22-game streak that is Baylor's longest since Zach Dillon's 27-game streak in 2006.
Baylor and Kansas State play the rubber game of the series Sunday at Baylor Ballpark; first pitch is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. CDT. The Bears send right-hander Willie Kempf (1-1, 3.97 ERA) to the mound. The Wildcats have not yet announced a starter.
NOTES: Baylor leads the all-time series 30-12, including a 29-11 advantage during the Big 12 era and a 29-9 advantage in regular-season Big 12 meetings. ... Miller has now been hit by a pitch 25 times during his career, moving into fourth place on Baylor's career list. ... Baylor improved to 12-2 this season in night games and 12-3 when its starter lasts at least 5.0 innings. The Bears moved to 6-1 when their pitchers record at least 10 strikeouts. ... Baylor improved to 2-4 this season when the temperature at first pitch is below 60 degrees. It was the Bears' first such win since the season's third game, snapping a three-game skid. ... Dickerson (nine games), Hansen (four games) and Pinckard (three games) all extended hitting streaks.
