May 28, 2009
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MAY 29-JUNE 1 • ALEX BOX STADIUM • BATON ROUGE, LA.
BAYLOR (29-24) at NCAA BATON ROUGE REGIONAL
FRIDAY, MAY 29
Game 1: #1 LSU (46-16) vs. #4 Southern (30-15), 1 p.m.
Game 2: #2 Minnesota (38-17) vs. #3 Baylor (29-24), 6 p.m.
SATURDAY, MAY 30
Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 1 p.m.
Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 6 p.m.
SUNDAY, MAY 31
Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 1 p.m.
Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 6 p.m.
MONDAY, JUNE 1
Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, TBA (if necessary)
Baylor makes its 15th NCAA Tournament appearance this weekend at the Baton Rouge Regional, hosted by LSU at Alex Box Stadium. The third-seeded Bears face second-seeded Minnesota in Friday's first round with a 6:04 p.m. CDT first pitch. Host and top-seeded LSU faces fourth-seeded Southern at 1:04 p.m. Friday.
The Bears (29-24) are 3-7 in their last 10 games after winning two of three pool-play games at last week's Big 12 Conference Championship in Oklahoma City. Baylor finished eighth in the Big 12 regular-season standings and tied for first place in Pool One at the Big 12 Championship. The Bears are 9-12 away from home this season, 5-10 on opponents' home fields and 4-2 in neutral-site games.
Minnesota (38-17) is 6-4 in its last 10 games after going 3-2 at last week's Big Ten Conference Tournament in Columbus, Ohio. The Golden Gophers finished second in the Big Ten regular-season standings and lost to Indiana in the Big Ten Touranment title game. Minnesota is 17-12 on the road this season, going 14-9 on opponents' home fields and 3-3 in neutral-site games. The Golden Golphers are ranked 21st nationally in this week's Baseball America Top 25 and are among teams receiving votes in this week's USA Today/ESPN Coaches' Poll.
Baylor and Minnesota have played four common opponents this season: Dallas Baptist, Missouri, TCU and UT Arlington. The Bears were 5-3 against those four teams, while the Golden Gophers were 6-4.
LSU (46-16), the No. 3 national seed in the NCAA Tournament, is 8-2 in its last 10 games after winning last week's Southeastern Conference Tournament in Hoover, Ala. The Tigers were regular-season SEC champions but lost to Vanderbilt in the first round of the SEC Tournament only to win five consecutive games and avenge the opening-round loss to Vanderbilt in the event's title game. LSU is 28-9 at home this season. The Tigers are ranked second nationally in both the Baseball America Top 25 and the USA Today/ESPN Coaches' Poll this week.
Baylor and LSU have played one common opponents this season: Northwestern State. The Bears defeated the Demons 18-1 in seven innings April 7 at Baylor Ballpark. LSU defeated the Demons 2-1 March 17 at Alex Box Stadium.
Southern (30-15) is 7-3 in its last 10 games after winning last week's Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament in Baton Rouge, La. The Tigers also were regular-season SWAC champions. Southern is 14-13 away from home this season, going 9-11 on opponents' home fields and 5-2 in neutral-site games.
Baylor and Southern have played one common opponents this season: Prairie View A&M. The Bears defeated Prairie View 14-1 in seven innings April 1 at Baylor Ballpark. Southern won two of three in a regular-season SWAC series against Prairie View at Baton Rouge.
All Baylor baseball games are broadcast live on Waco's 1660 ESPN Radio. Live streaming audio and also is available for all Baylor baseball games online at www.BaylorBears.com, the official website of Baylor Athletics and a member of the CBS College Sports Network.
Live streaming video and GameTracker live stats also are available for the NCAA Baton Rouge Regionals at www.LSUSports.net.
BAYLOR-MINNESOTA SERIES
Overall: Baylor leads 8-3
Waco: Baylor leads 8-2
Minneapolis: Never Met
Neutral Site: Minnesota leads 1-0
NCAA Tournament: Baylor leads 2-1
Smith vs. Minnesota: 2-0
First Meeting: at Baylor 7, Minnesota 6 [3/24/1948]
Last Meeting: at Baylor 22, Minnesota 6 [5/30/1999]
BAYLOR-LSU SERIES
Overall: LSU leads 6-2
Waco: Never Met
Baton Rouge: LSU leads 6-1
Neutral Site: Baylor leads 1-0
NCAA Tournament: LSU leads 3-1
Smith vs. LSU: 1-5
First Meeting: Baylor 3, LSU 0 [4/15/1960]
Last Meeting: at LSU 20, Baylor 5 [6/8/2003]
BAYLOR-SOUTHERN SERIES
Overall: Baylor leads 1-0
Waco: Never Met
Baton Rouge: Never Met
Neutral Site: Baylor leads 1-0
NCAA Tournament: Baylor leads 1-0
Smith vs. Southern: 1-0
First Meeting: Baylor 10, Southern 3 [5/31/2003]
Last Meeting: Baylor 10, Southern 3 [5/31/2003]
INTERNET FEEDS
GameTracker: www.LSUSports.net
Audio: www.BaylorBears.com
Video: www.LSUSports.net
BAYLOR vs. 2009 NCAA TOURNAMENT FIELD
Baylor has played 12 teams in this year's NCAA Tournament field: Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Rice, Sam Houston State, TCU, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas State and UC Irvine. The Bears were 13-17 against those teams, including a 4-4 mark against the non-Big 12 teams.
Baylor's strength of schedule ranks sixth nationally behind only Cal State Fullerton, UCLA, Arkansas, Washington State and Texas A&M; only UCLA is not in the tournament field. The Bears played 75.5 percent of their games against RPI Top 100 teams, eighth-best nationally, seventh-best among teams in the tournament field and best among the four teams at the Baton Rouge Regional.
TEAM NOTES
• Baylor has seven last-at-bat victories this season, the most by a Baylor team since the 2005 squad had 12.
• The Bears are 4-0 in extra-inning games this season. Baylor batters are 10-for-13 in extra innings.
• Baylor is 12-4 in one-run games. After enjoying a 10-game winning streak in one-run games, the Bears lost three consecutive one-run games in a six-game span.
• Baylor batters are 10-for-13 (.769) in extra innings.
• Baylor is 16-2 when producing a big inning (four-plus runs) and 13-22 without a big inning. Likewise, the Bears are 2-9 when allowing a big inning and 27-14 when not allowing a big inning.
• Baylor is 21-0 when leading after eight innings. The Bears have won 26 consecutive games when leading after eight innings since squandering a six-run, ninth-inning lead in last year's Texas A&M series finale (April 20).
BAYLOR NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY
Baylor makes its 15th NCAA Tournament appearance this weekend, the program's 10th regional in the past 12 seasons. The Bears are 33-30 all-time in NCAA postseason play, going 27-19 all-time in regional play, 4-5 in Super Regional play and 2-6 at the College World Series. Baylor is 18-9 in neutral-site games at the regional level but just 3-8 on opponents' home fields. The Bears' last victory on an opponents' home field in the regional round was a 3-2 victory at Southern Mississippi in 2003. Since then, Baylor lost twice at Rice in 2006.
This is Baylor's first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2007 when the Bears went 1-2 and finished third at the Houston Regional hosted by Rice. This is only the second time in the last decade that Baylor has left the Lone Star state for regional play; the Bears were the No. 1 seed at the 2003 Hattiesburg Regional.
In 2007, the Bears lost their opening-round game to second-seeded TCU and rebounded to eliminate fourth-seeded Prairie View A&M. Baylor led 5-3 heading to the ninth inning in an elimination game against TCU, but the Horned Frogs rallied for seven runs in the frame and won 10-5. Prior to the 2007 regional, Baylor had won five consecutive regional first-round games and had reached the championship round in five straight regional appearances.
BAYLOR-MINNESOTA SERIES HISTORY
Baylor and Minnesota meet for the 12th time Friday, the fourth time in NCAA Tournament play. The Bears lead the all-time series 8-3, including a 2-1 edge in NCAA Tournament meetings. The teams first met March 24, 1948, in Waco and split a doubleheader; Baylor won the opener 7-6, Minnesota took the nightcap 10-3. This is the programs' first meeting since the Bears defeated the Golden Gophers 22-6 in the championship game of the 1999 NCAA Waco Regional.
BAYLOR-MINNESOTA MEETINGS
3/24/1948 Baylor 7, Minnesota 6 Waco, Texas
3/24/1948 Minnesota 10, Baylor 3 Waco, Texas
3/23/1949 Baylor 7, Minnesota 3 Waco, Texas
3/30/1951 Baylor 7, Minnesota 3 Waco, Texas
3/31/1951 Baylor 13, Minnesota 1 Waco, Texas
3/24/1952 Baylor 15, Minnesota 3 Waco, Texas
3/25/1952 Minnesota 5, Baylor 4 Waco, Texas
6/13/1977 Minnesota 4, Baylor 3 Omaha, Neb. (College World Series)
3/23/1986 Baylor 32, Minnesota 9 Waco, Texas
5/29/1999 Baylor 6, Minnesota 4 Waco, Texas (NCAA Regional)
5/30/1999 Baylor 22, Minnesota 6 Waco, Texas (NCAA Regional)
LAST MEETING
BAYLOR 22, MINNESOTA 6
NCAA WACO REGIONAL • MAY 30, 1999 • BAYLOR BALLPARK
Bryan Loeb went 3-for-5 with a home run and four RBI, leading Baylor to a 22-6 route over Minnesota to clinch the 1999 NCAA Waco Regional title.
The Bears struck early and often, pounding out a total of 29 hits against the Golden Gophers. Baylor opened the game with one run in the first, but Minnesota scored three in the bottom half of the inning to take their only lead of the game. In the top of the second, the Bears responded with four runs to make the score 5-3.
Minnesota added a run in the bottom half of the second to make the score 5-4 after two; however, Baylor outscored Minnesota 16-1 the rest of the way, scoring in each inning except for the fifth.
Eric Nelson went 5-for-6 from the plate with a two-bagger in the top of the first inning. Nelson's five hits also tied what at the time was Baylor's single-game record. His five hits remain a Baylor single-game record for postseason play.
Chad Hawkins started for the Bears but left in the fourth inning after allowing 10 of the Golden Gophers' 15 hits. Hawkins gave way to reliever Justin Taylor, who pitched 6.0 scoreless innings with three strikeouts to earn the win. Minnesota starter Mike Kobow was saddled with his lone loss on the season after allowing eight runs on 10 hits and three walks over 3.0 innings.
BAYLOR vs. BIG TEN CONFERENCE OPPONENTS
The Bears are 16-4-1 all-time against teams currently playing as members of the Big Ten Conference. Baylor also has played Michigan (3-1-1), Northwestern (3-0), Purdue (3-0), Illinois (1-1) and Iowa (1-0).
Baylor's last game against a Big Ten opponent was a 20-6 victory Feb. 29, 2008, against Illinois at the QTI Baylor Classic; Aaron Miller tied a Baylor single-game record with three home runs in that contest. The Bears have won seven consecutive games against Big Ten opponents since falling to Illinois in 1998.
The Bears are 2-3 all-time against Big Ten teams in NCAA Tournament play, including a 2-1 mark against Minnesota. Michigan blanked Baylor 4-0 in the first round of the 1978 College World Series. Illinois defeated the Bears 8-7 in a 13-inning elimination game at the 1998 South I Regional in Gainesville, Fla.
BAYLOR-LSU SERIES HISTORY
Baylor and LSU have met eight times with the Tigers holding a 6-2 advantage in the all-time series, including a 3-1 edge in NCAA Tournament meetings. The Bears and Tigers first met April 15, 1960, a 3-0 Baylor victory at the Northeast Louisiana Easter Tournament in Monroe, La. This is the programs' first meeting since LSU defeated Baylor 20-5 in the third game of the 2003 Baton Rouge Super Regional.
BAYLOR-LSU MEETINGS
4/15/1960 Baylor 3, LSU 0 Monroe, La. (NLU Easter Tournament)
5/29/1993 LSU 13, Baylor 6 Baton Rouge, La. (NCAA South Regional)
2/15/1997 LSU 13, Baylor 2 Baton Rouge, La.
3/16/1997 LSU 11, Baylor 5 Baton Rouge, La.
3/17/1997 LSU 8, Baylor 3 Baton Rouge, La.
6/6/2003 Baylor 4, LSU 1 Baton Rouge, La. (NCAA Super Regional)
6/7/2003 LSU 6, Baylor 5 Baton Rouge, La. (NCAA Super Regional)
6/8/2003 LSU 20, Baylor 5 Baton Rouge, La. (NCAA Super Regional)
LAST MEETING
LSU 20, BAYLOR 5
NCAA BATON ROUGE SUPER REGIONAL • JUNE 8, 2003 • ALEX BOX STADIUM
LSU scored 17 unanswered runs in the middle innings en route to a 20-5 win over Baylor in the third and deciding game of the 2003 NCAA Baton Rouge Super Regional at Alex Box Stadium.
Baylor starter Mark McCormick kept the Tigers within range through five innings but tired in the sixth, and the Baylor bullpen was unable to duplicate his performance. Five different pitchers allowed the 11 runs on just six hits and six walks in the inning.
The day had started well for the Bears, who jumped out for a three spot in the first inning. Chris Durbin started the game with his fifth leadoff home run of the year. David Murphy walked, and Mark Saccomanno later delivered a two-out, two-run homer to left.
LSU responded quickly, though, scoring four runs in the second. With one out, Ivan Naccarata singled, and a groundball to shortstop failed to result in an out when second baseman Kyle Reynolds dropped the throw. Jon Zeringue then hit a three-run homer on the first pitch he saw to tie the game. A walk and two singles, all with two outs, pushed across the Tigers' fourth run, putting LSU back on top 4-3.
The Tigers added another run in the fourth, as a leadoff walk by McCormick came around to score on a sacrifice fly after a single and another walk. Trey Webb made an outstanding leaping, tumbling catch of a flare into left-center for the third out of the inning, leaving the score at 5-3.
Then came the sixth inning and LSU broke open the game. The Tigers tacked on one more run in the seventh and three in the ninth. Saccomanno drove in a run in the eighth with a sacrifice fly, and Murphy plated the Bears' final run in the ninth with an RBI groundout.
McCormick lasted 5.0-plus innings, striking out seven but walking five and allowing six hits. He was tagged for six runs, four of which were earned.
LSU starter Justin Meier went the distance, scattering 12 hits but allowing just five runs. He struck out three, walked two and hit two batters in the ninth.
BAYLOR vs. SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE OPPONENTS
The Bears are 56-51 all-time against teams currently playing as members of the Southeastern Conference. Most of that came against former Southwest Conference foe Arkansas, against which Baylor is 37-36. The Bears also have played Mississipi State (6-3), Vanderbilt (5-3), Ole Miss (4-1), Florida (1-1), Tennessee (1-0) and South Carolina (1-0).
Baylor's last game against an SEC opponent was a 6-3 victory March 10, 2008, at Mississippi State; that victory completed the Bears' three-game series sweep at Starkville and pushed Baylor to 11-1 on the season. Baylor has won seven of its last nine games against SEC opponents, dating back to a three-game sweep at Vanderbilt in 2005.
The Bears are 4-5 against SEC teams in NCAA Tournament play, including a 1-3 mark against LSU. Baylor dropped a 3-2 decision to South Carolina in the first round of the 1977 College World Series. The following season, the Bears defeated Mississippi State twice at the South Central Regional in Arlington, Texas. Baylor won 10-5 at Florida in an elimination game of the 1998 South I Regional. Two years later, Florida returned the favor, defeating Baylor 10-1 in an elimination game of the Waco Regional.
BAYLOR-SOUTHERN SERIES HISTORY
Baylor and Southern have met only once before -- a 10-3 Baylor victory in the second round of the 2003 NCAA Hattiesburg Regional.
BAYLOR-SOUTHERN MEETINGS
5/31/2003 Baylor 10, Southern 3 Hattiesburg, Miss. (NCAA Regional)
LAST MEETING
BAYLOR 10, SOUTHERN 3
NCAA HATTIESBURG REGIONAL • MAY 31, 2003 • PETE TAYLOR PARK
Baylor broke open a 3-3 game with seven runs over the final three innings to beat Southern 10-3 in a winners' bracket game at the 2003 NCAA Hattiesburg Regional.
The late outburst broke open what had been a tight game and made a winner out of starter Steven White, who struck out nine over 7.2 innings. White allowed three runs on seven hits. Zane Carlson struck out three in 1.1 innings for the save.
Kevin Sevigny walked and scored the Bears' first run in the third, then brought Baylor back from a 2-1 defecit with a two-out, two-run double to left in the sixth. Southern pushed across the tying run in the bottom of the sixth, but Michael Griffin gave the Bears the lead for good with a two-out solo homer in the seventh.
Trey Webb singled and scored in the eighth with Baylor's fifth run; he also delivered a two-out, two-run single in the ninth. Kyle Reynolds followed with a first-pitch, three-run homer that put the Bears up 10-3.
BAYLOR vs. SOUTHWESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE OPPONENTS
The Bears are 14-0 all-time against teams currently playing as members of the Southwestern Athletic Conference. All of those games have come since Baylor's victory over Southern at the 2003 NCAA Hattiesburg Regional. The Bears also have played Texas Southern (8-0) and Prairie View A&M (5-0).
Baylor's last game against a SWAC opponent was a 14-1, seven-inning win April 1, 2009, against Prairie View A&M at Baylor Ballpark. The Bears sent 15 batters to the plate in an 11-run first inning and coasted to the victory.
The Bears are 2-0 against SWAC teams in NCAA Tournament play, including a 1-0 mark against Southern. Baylor also defeated Prairie View A&M 9-2 in an elimination game at the 2007 Houston Regional.
BAYLOR vs. RANKED OPPONENTS
Baylor is 159-242-1 against ranked opponents since the start of the Baseball America rankings in 1981. The Bears are 6-10 against ranked teams this year with two wins against TCU (13th/16th) and single wins against UCLA (ninth), UC Irvine (fifth), Texas A&M (third) and Texas (fifth). Baylor lost twice to third-ranked Texas A&M, once to 10th-ranked Rice and three times to 13th-ranked Oklahoma, three times to eighth-ranked Texas and once to 17th-ranked Kansas State.
Baylor is 75-123 all-time against top-10 teams, including a 4-6 mark this year. The Bears have not defeated a top-10 opponent on its home field since edging then-No. 1 Texas 3-2 in the first game of the 2005 series; that is a streak of 11 consecutive losses in such games.
For more information on Baylor's history against nationally ranked opponents, reference page 141 in the 2009 Baylor Baseball Media Guide.
MILLER NAMED ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICA
RF/LHP Aaron Miller was named second-team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America, the College Sports Information Directors of America earlier this week. Miller is the seventh student-athlete in Baylor baseball history to earn Academic All-America honors.
A management and entrepreneurship major from Channelview, Texas, Miller is a two-time, first-team Academic All-District VI selection. He became eligible for Academic All-America honors by earning first-team all-district honors this season.
Selected as an outfielder on the Academic All-America Team, he enters NCAA Tournament play with a .328 batting average, 12 home runs, 47 RBI, 11 doubles, 47 runs scored, a .581 slugging percentage and a .430 on base percentage. Miller, who is tied for 10th in the Big 12 in home runs, became the first Baylor player to hit 12-plus home runs in consecutive seasons since Josh Ford in 2003-2004. He also is 3-3 on the mound this season with 59 strikeouts over 47.2 innings.
Miller joins pitcher Pat Combs (1988 first team), first baseman Charley Carter (1998 first team), pitcher Jason Jennings (1998 third team; 1999 first team), outfielder Jon Topolski (1998 second team; 1999 second team), first baseman Ross Bennett (2003 first team) and catcher Zach Dillon (2006 first team) on Baylor's list of baseball Academic All-Americans.
MILESTONE WATCH
• 1B/DH Dan Evatt needs three home runs to match Matt Williams' 1998 Baylor freshman record.
• SS Shaver Hansen needs four hits to reach 200 for his career. ... Hansen needs one home runs to move into a sixth-place tie on Baylor's single-season list.
• RF/LHP Aaron Miller needs two home runs to crack Baylor's career top-10 list.
• RHP Kendal Volz has 226 career strikeouts, ninth in Baylor history. He needs three to tie for eighth place.
BAYLOR ON A HOMER BARRAGE
Baylor has blasted 70 home runs this season, the fourth-best season total in school history and the most by a Baylor team since the 2003 squad had 83 homers in 68 games. The Bears rank 46th nationally in home runs, and Baylor's per-game average of 1.32 ranks 45th.
The Bears were shutout 6-0 April 4 at Kansas; the following day, the Bears tied a single-game school record with eight home runs. Baylor hit at least one home run in each of the next 18 games, eclipsing the previous school record by six games. The Bears previously had homered in 12 consecutive games on four occasions.
Baylor hit 35 home runs in Big 12 play, the most by a Baylor squad since the Bears hit 35 in 27 games during the 2003 season. The Bears hit 58 home runs in 28 Big 12 games during the 1998 season, 46 in 30 league games in 1997 and 43 in 27 league games in 1999.
HOMER TRIO BAYLOR'S BEST IN SIX YEARS
Three Bears have blasted at least 10 home runs each this season -- SS Shaver Hansen (16), RF/LHP Aaron Miller (12) and DH Dustin Dickerson (10). It marks the first time three or more Bears have reached double figures in home runs since 2003 when Chris Durbin (18), Josh Ford (12), Michael Griffin (11) and David Murphy (11) all accomplished the feat.
The 1998 squad was the most prolific with six players reaching double figures in home runs. This marks the sixth time Baylor has produced at least three players with 10-plus home runs. Here is a look at each such season:
1997 (3) -- Jeremy Dodson (15), Jon Topolski (11), Jim Blair (10)
1998 (6) -- Charley Carter (21), Jon Topolski (19), Jason Jennings (18), Jeremy Dodson (13), Eric Nelson (13), Jim Blair (10)
1999 (4) -- Matt Williams (19), Jason Jennings (17), Eric Nelson (17), Jon Topolski (17)
2002 (3) -- Chris Durbin (14), Matt Williams (13), Kelly Shoppach (12)
2003 (4) -- Chris Durbin (18), Josh Ford (12), Michael Griffin (11), David Murphy (11)
2009 (3) -- Shaver Hansen (16), Aaron Miller (12), Dustin Dickerson (10)
DICKERSON, MILLER STREAKS AMONG LEAGUE'S BEST
DH Dustin Dickerson and RF/LHP Aaron Miller have produced three of the seven longest hitting streaks in the Big 12 this season. Dickerson posted a career-long, 24-game streak that was the longest in the league this season and tied for the seventh-longest in Big 12 history. Dickerson's streak also was the third-longest in Baylor history.
Meanwhile, Miller posted streaks of 17 games -- a career long -- and 15 games. Miller is the only player in the Big 12 this season to post two hitting streaks of at least 15 games.
Dickerson and/or Miller has hit safely in every game this season since both were hitless in the season opener. Dickerson, who enters the NCAA Tournament with a 13-game hitting streak, has hit safely in 37 of the last 38 games.
Here is a look at the longest hitting streaks in the Big 12 this season (through games of May 24):
ALL GAMES BIG 12 GAMES
24 -- Dustin Dickerson, Baylor 18 -- Michael Torres, Texas
17 -- Aaron Miller, Baylor 16 -- Dustin Dickerson, Baylor
16 -- Jamie Johnson, Oklahoma 13 -- Buck Afenir, Kansas
15 -- Garrett Buechele, Oklahoma 12 -- Thomas Belza, Oklahoma State *
16 -- Kyle Mach, Missouri 12 -- Jaime Johnson, Oklahoma
15 -- Aaron Miller, Baylor 11 -- Luke Anders, Texas A&M
15 -- Chris Richburg, Texas Tech 11 -- Garrett Buechele, Oklahoma
14 -- Brandon Belt, Texas 11 -- Kyle Colligan, Texas A&M **
14 -- Tony Thompson, Kansas 11 -- J.T. Wise, Oklahoma
14 -- Tony Thompson, Kansas 10 -- Brandon Belt, Texas
13 -- Adam Bailey, Nebraska 10 -- Kyle Mach, Missouri *
13 -- Dustin Dickerson, Baylor *
13 -- Bryant Hernandez, Oklahoma
13 -- Neil Medchill, Oklahoma State
12 -- Michael Dabbs, Oklahoma State
12 -- David Narodowski, Kansas
* - active
** - also hit safely in the final nine games of the 2008 season
*** - also hit safely in the final seven Big 12 game of the 2008 season
HANSEN HOMERUN TALLY AMONG BAYLOR BESTS
With 16 home runs on the season, SS Shaver Hansen is third the Big 12 in round-trippers; he also finished second in the conference with nine homers in league games. Hansen ranks fifth nationally in home runs among shortstops.
Hansen is the first Baylor infielder with 10-plus home runs in a season since Michael Griffin had 10 in 2004 and the first Baylor infielder with 15-plus home runs in a season since Matt Williams (19) and Eric Nelson (17) in 1999. Hansen ranks ninth on Baylor's single-season list, one shy of tying three players for sixth. His nine home runs in Big 12 play are one shy of Charley Carter's 1998 single-season Baylor record. Hansen also has established a single-season school record for home runs by a shortstop, and his 16 home runs rank second at Baylor since the minus-three bat restrictions began in 2000.
BEARS COMING THROUGH IN LATE INNINGS
Baylor has seven wins this season in its last at bat, including six walk-off victories. Four times the Bears have produced extra-inning, walk-off hits; 1B Dustin Dickerson produced two of those four hits. Dickerson also had a game-winning, two-run single in the top of the ninth in the Kansas series opener; the hit snapped a 6-6 tie and the Bears held on for an 8-6 win.
GEDWED BIG 12 PINCH-HIT LEADER
OF Kenton Gedwed leads the Bears with eight pinch hits this season, the most by a Baylor player since Ross Bennett had eight pinch hits in 2002. Through games of May 24, Gedwed leads the Big 12 in pinch hits. 2B Joey Hainsfurther is tied for eighth in the league with three pinch hits. Here is a look at the league's pinch-hit leaders with total pinch-hit at bats in parentheses:
8 -- Kenton Gedwed, Baylor (18)
7 -- Logan Leslie, Texas Tech (20)
6 -- Tyler Ogle, Oklahoma (10)
5 -- Ross Hubbard, Oklahoma (19)
4 -- Mike Kindel, Kansas State (10)
4 -- Brett Parsons, Texas A&M (13)
4 -- Joe Patterson, Texas A&M (11)
3 -- Ryan Ampleman, Missouri (6)
3 -- Preston Clark, Texas (10)
3 -- Zac Elgie, Kansas (5)
3 -- Joey Hainsfurther, Baylor (4)
3 -- Adam Hornung, Baylor (5)
3 -- Randy McCurry, Oklahoma State (7)
3 -- Russell Moldenhauer, Texas (9)
3 -- Cade Thompson, Nebraska (14)
BAYLOR TRIO ON BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Three Baylor baseball players were named to the 2009 Big 12 Conference All-Championship Team. DH Dustin Dickerson, RHP Craig Fritsch and 2B Joey Hainsfurther all were so honored.
Dickerson was 7-for-14 in Baylor's three games with four RBI, four runs scored, two doubles and a stolen base. His .500 average tied for the best by a Baylor player in a Big 12 Championship with a minimum of 10 at bats. Dickerson, who produced multiple-hit games in each of Baylor's three contests, is riding a 13-game hitting streak and his hit safely in 37 of the last 38 games.
Hainsfurther was 4-for-10 with five runs scored, a triple and two sacrifices. He also was errorless in 15 total chances at second base.
Fritsch earn the victory in both Baylor wins and both came in relief. In 7.2 innings over two appearances, Fritsch allowed two runs - one earned - on seven hits and five walks with 11 strikeouts.
FOUR BEARS EARN ALL-BIG 12 HONORS
Four Baylor baseball student-athletes earned all-Big 12 Conference honors, the league office announced last week. DH Dustin Dickerson and SS Shaver Hansen earned first-team honors, while RF/LHP Aaron Miller was named second team as a utility player. RHP Kendal Volz earned honorable mention.
Dickerson and Hansen are the first Bears to earn first-team all-league honors since Beamer Weems was so honored in 2007. This is the first time Baylor has garnered multiple first-team honors since three Bears were first-team selections in 2005. Hansen and Volz earned all-conference honors for the second times in their careers; Dickerson and Miller were first-time honorees.
Baylor players have earned 80 all-conference honors in the 13-year history of the Big 12. Dickerson and Hansen produced Baylor's 27th and 28th first-team all-Big 12 honors.
HANSEN, MILLER, VOLZ NAMED ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT VI
Three Baylor baseball student-athletes earned ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VI honors, the College Sports Information Directors of America announced. SS Shaver Hansen, RF/LHP Aaron Miller and RHP Kendal Volz all were named first team. Baylor was the only school with three first-team selections.
Miller earned first-team honors for the second consecutive season; Hansen was a second-team selection last year. This marks the fourth consecutive year in which at least two Baylor student-athletes have earned academic all-district honors. Miller joins Jason Jennings (1998, 1999), Jon Topolski (1998, 1999) and Ross Bennett (2002, 2003) as the only Bears to earn first-team academic all-district honors twice.
By virtue of their first-team all-district selections, Hansen, Miller and Volz are eligible for Academic All-America honors. Baylor's last baseball Academic All-American was Zach Dillon in 2006.
BAYLOR PLACES 11 ON ACADEMIC ALL-BIG 12 SQUADS
Eleven Baylor baseball student-athletes earned Academic All-Big 12 Conference honors, the league office announced Thursday. The Bears placed nine student-athletes on the first team and two on the second team. Baylor led all schools in total honors and was second behind only Missouri (10) in first-team honorees.
Baylor baseball student-athletes have earned first-team Academic All-Big 12 honors 73 times in the league's 13-year history, 15 more than any other school in the conference. Nebraska (58) ranks second, followed by Oklahoma State (53), Kansas (44), Missouri (44), Oklahoma (39), Kansas State (35), Texas (32), Texas Tech (30) and Texas A&M (26).
The nine first-team honorees were 3B Drew Bias (B.A. English; pursuing Master's degree in sport management), SS Shaver Hansen (economics), RHP Willie Kempf (finance/real estate), C Brooks Kimmey (health science studied/pre-med), RF/LHP Aaron Miller (management/entrepreneurship), RHP Ross Speed (pre-business), RHP Shawn Tolleson (health science studies/pre-dental), RHP Kendal Volz (finance/real estate) and 2B Landis Ware (graphic design). OF Don Lambert (pre-business) and OF Brooks Pinckard (general studies) earned second-team honors.
Hansen, Kempf, Miller, Tolleson and Volz all were first-team selections for the second consecutive season. Kimmey, Speed, Ware, Lambert and Pinckard all were selected in their first year of eligibility for academic all-conference honors.
EXTRA SPECIAL
Baylor is 19-7 in extra-inning games since the start of the 2003 season. After limping to a 1-3 record last season, the Bears already are 4-0 in extra frames this year. The Bears' 10-inning, 2-1 victory over Pacific in the 2009 season opener snapped a three-game losing streak in such games.
Five of the 19 wins over the past six-plus seasons have come on an opponent's home field (Arizona twice, Arizona State, Texas and Vanderbilt). Three of the 15 wins were either neutral-site games or games at Baylor Ballpark in which the Bears were the visitor. Four of the 15 wins have come in postseason play, including two at the Big 12 Tournament and one at the College World Series.
Baylor's luck was not as good in 2002 when the Bears were 1-5 in extra-inning games, including a span of three consecutive games lost in extra innings in mid-May.
VERRETT AMONG ELITE CLUB
RHP Logan Verrett is the 11th Baylor freshman to post at least six wins. Furthermore, he is only the fifth to accomplish the feat during head coach Steve Smith's tenure, joining Ryan LaMotta (2003), Abe Woody (2003), Kendal Volz (2007) and Shawn Tolleson (2008). Aaron Lineweaver established Baylor's record for wins by a freshman with nine in 1993.
Verrett, who is tied for fourth nationally in wins, is the fifth Baylor freshman to win at least seven games and the first to win accomplish the feat since LaMotta was 7-3 in 2003. Verrett's 7-0 start tied the school record for consecutive wins to start a career by a freshman; Ted Richardson finished the 1985 season at 7-0.
NEXT UP...
The winner of the Baton Rouge Regional faces the winner of the Houston Regional, hosted by Rice, in the super-regional round at a site yet to be determined.
