vs.  |
Baylor (21-11, 5-5 Big 12) at Kansas State (23-8, 6-3 Big 12) Manhattan, Kan. | Tointon Stadium (2,331) |
FRIDAY, APRIL 16 | 6:30 P.M.
Probable Starters:BU - RHP Shawn Tolleson 1-4, 4.19 ERA, 43.0 IP, 24 BB, 56 K KSU - RHP Ryan Daniel5-1, 3.95 ERA, 41.0 IP, 4 BB, 24 K | 
| SATURDAY, APRIL 17 | 2:00 P.M.
Probable Starters:BU - RHP Logan Verrett 4-2, 3.33 ERA, 46.0 IP, 15 BB, 54 K KSU - LHP Kyle Hunter6-0, 3.32 ERA, 43.1 IP, 14 BB, 23 K | 
| SUNDAY, APRIL 18 | 1:00 P.M. Probable Starters:BU - RHP Willie Kempf 4-1, 4.33 ERA, 35.1 IP, 16 BB, 36 K KSU - RHP Justin Lindsey 2-2, 4.52 ERA, 30.0 IP, 10 BB, 18 K |
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Complete Release in PDF Format 
Baylor looks to win its third consecutive Big 12 Conference series when the Bears travel to Manhattan, Kan. for a three-game set with Kansas State this weekend.
The Bears are coming off a pair of midweek wins against UT Arlington, extending their winning streak to four straight. Baylor came back from down 3-0 and knocked off the Mavericks, 5-4, in 10 innings at Clay Gould Ballpark on Tuesday, and then the Bears overcame a 5-1 deficit to win 18-8 on Wednesday night at Baylor Ballpark. Since snapping a five-game losing streak early in the year, Baylor has won 17 of its last 22 games.
Kansas State dropped a pair of midweek games on the road against BYU. The Wildcats scored 19 runs in the two games, but lost 15-9 and 13-10 against the Cougars. KSU has won three of its last four Big 12 games. The Wildcats rebounded from dropping the opener against Nebraska to win the series in Manhattan last weekend.
All Baylor baseball games are broadcast live on Waco's 1660 ESPN Radio. Live streaming audio and GameTracker also are 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.
SERIES INFORMATION
KANSAS STATE WILDCATS
Overall: Baylor leads 31-13
Waco: Baylor leads 21-2
Manhattan: Baylor leads 10-8
Neutral Site: Kansas State leads 3-0
Smith vs. KSU: 30-12
First Meeting: 3/28/1966
Last Meeting: 5/21/2009
COACHES
BAYLOR: Steve Smith
Alma Mater: Baylor, 1986
Career Record: 573-374-1 (16th season)
Record at Baylor: 573-374-1 (16th season)
KANSAS STATE: Brad Hill
Alma Mater: Emporia State, 1985
Career Record: 634-245-3 (16th season)
Record at KSU: 216-154-3 (seventh season)
BAYLOR-ISP SPORTS NETWORK
1660 ESPN RADIO (Waco)
Tom Barfield (pxp) and Lark Smith (color)
BAYLOR - KANSAS STATE SERIES HISTORY
Baylor and Kansas State have met 44 times, and the Bears hold a 31-13 advantage in the all-time series. However, the Wildcats have played much better on their home field, as the Bears lead just 10-8 in games played in Manhattan. Baylor is 21-2 against the Wildcats in Waco, but Kansas State has won all three neutral site meetings. Baylor is 30-12 against Kansas State in the Steve Smith era.
LAST TIME VS. KANSAS STATE
KANSAS STATE 9, BAYLOR 4 • MAY 21, 2009 • BRICKTOWN BALLPARK • OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA.
Baylor stranded nine base runners, including six in scoring position, in a 9-4 loss to 17th-ranked Kansas State in pool-play action at the Big 12 Conference Championship. Eighth-seeded Baylor (28-24) is eliminated from title game contention with the loss. Fourth-seeded Kansas State (41-15-1) moved to 2-0 in pool play and will face top-seeded Texas at 12:30 p.m. Saturday for the right to play in Sunday's title game.
Justin Bloxom's two-run single in the top of the first set the tone as the Wildcats never trailed. Baylor had runners on first and second with one out in the bottom of the inning and Aaron Miller at the plate against Big 12 Pitcher of the Year A.J. Morris. Miller, however, grounded into an inning-ending double play. That proved to be a recurring theme as the Bears put runners on base each inning but could not match Kansas State's offensive production.
Baylor scored in two innings, getting a run across in the third and three runs across in the seventh. Both times, Kansas State responded with at least one run in the next inning.
Morris (13-1) earned the victory and moved into a fifth-place tie on the all-time Big 12 single-season wins list. He allowed four runs on nine hits and four walks with seven strikeouts over 6.2 innings.
Starter Willie Kempf (4-5) took the loss for the Bears. He surrendered five runs - three earned - on seven hits and a walk with four strikeouts over 4.0 innings.
Shaver Hansen's two-out RBI single in the bottom of the third cut Kansas State's lead to 2-1, but the Wildcats answered with three runs on two hits and a costly Baylor error in the top of the fourth.
After Rob Vaughn's one-out RBI single, Dane Yelovich lay down a first-and-third bunt. Kempf fielded the ball and got Jordan Cruz in a rundown between third and home. However, Kempf's throw to third in attempt to get Cruz skipped away; both base runners scored on the play.
Jason King's two-out, two-run triple in the seventh pushed the Wildcats' lead to 7-1. Baylor rallied for three runs in the bottom of the inning but missed an opportunity to get more. The Bears loaded the bases with no outs and the heart of the lineup coming to the plate. Baylor scored all three runs without a hit thanks to a pair of runs coming home on wild pitches and Aaron Miller's RBI groundout.
But Kansas State salted away the game with single spots in the eighth and ninth innings. One pitch after staying alive on a two-strike check swing, Adam Muenster delivered a sacrifice fly. Bloxom capped the scoring with a leadoff homer in the ninth.
Ben Booker, Dustin Dickerson and Joey Hainsfurther all had multiple-hit games for the Bears. Dickerson was 3-for-5 with a run scored, and Hainsfurther scored twice.
QUICK NOTES
• The Baylor bullpen has combined to post an 14-2 record with 13 saves and a 2.77 ERA over 136.2 innings.
• Opponents are hitting .247 against BU relievers, and 11 Bears have posted ERAs of 3.58 or better in relief roles.
• The Bears have won 40 consecutive games when leading after eight innings since squandering a six-run, ninth-inning lead against Texas A&M in the 2008 series finale €ˆ(April 20).
• Baylor enters the weekend ranked second in the league in hitting (.328 batting average) and fourth in pitching (3.96 ERA). Oklahoma is the only other team ranked in the top four of both categories.
• The Bears are second in the Big 12 in both batting (.305) and pitching (4.45) in conference play.
• Only two Baylor players have started all 32 games this season - freshmen Max Muncy and Logan €ˆVick.
• Through 32 games, this season's BU squad is hitting 22 points higher and has an ERA that is 0.97 lower than the 2009 team had through the first 32 games, but the 2009 squad was one wins better at 22-10.
• Baylor has won two consecutive Big 12 Conference series for the first time since April of last season.
• The Bears are on a 12-game winning streak in non-conference games.
• This season's Baylor squad is 17-0 when leading at any point after the sixth inning.
PLAYER NOTES
• Leadoff hitter Logan €ˆVick leads the Bears in on-base percentage (.516) and ranks second in slugging (.598).
• Brooks Pinckard has stolen 20 consecutive bases and converted nine consecutive save opportunities.
• Joey Hainsfurther has an eight-game hitting streak; he has mutli-hit games in seven of those contests.
• Max Muncy set a new Baylor freshman record with his 10th home run of the season on Wednesday night.
• Vick is tied with Jon €ˆTopolski for the Baylor freshman walks record with 39.
• Brooks Pinckard set a new Baylor sophomore saves record with his ninth of the season on Tuesday night.
MIDWEEK €ˆPREVIEW
Baylor looks to build on its 12-game winning streak in non-conference games when the Bears host Sam Houston State at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday night at Baylor Ballpark. The Bears then travel to San Marcos, Texas to take on Texas State at the same time on Wednesday night.
BAYLOR-SAM HOUSTON STATE SERIES €ˆHISTORY
Baylor and Sam Houston State have met 94 times, and the Bears hold a 56-38 advantage in the all-time series. Baylor is 32-14 in games played in €ˆWaco against the Bearkats, while the series is tied 24-24 in games played in Huntsville. The Bears last played SHSU on April 21, 2009, in game a the Bearkats won 9-8. Baylor is 9-3 against SHSU during the Steve Smith era.
BAYLOR-TEXAS STATE SERIES €ˆHISTORY
Baylor and Texas State have met 60 times, and the Bears hold a 44-16 advantage in the all-time series. The teams have met twice already this season, with Baylor winning both games. €ˆThe Bears knocked off the Bobcats 3-2 in the first game of the QTI €ˆBaylor Classic on Feb. 26, and the Bears won 12-3 when the teams met again at Baylor Ballpark on April 6. The Bears have a 34-13 record in the all-time series in games played in Waco, and Baylor leads 10-3 in games played in San Marcos. The Bears are 30-11 against Texas State during the Steve Smith era.
BAYLOR vs. THE SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE
Baylor holds a 304-130-1 all-time record against teams currently affiliated with the Southland Conference. The Bears have won all six games against Southland teams during the 2010 season. Baylor has played Lamar (43-28-1), McNeese State (8-7), Nicholls State (7-2), Northwestern State (11-7), Sam Houston State (56-38), Stephen F. Austin (27-0), Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (5-0), Texas State (44-16), UT €ˆArlington (76-29) and UTSA (27-3).