Feb. 13, 2015 Final Stats | Photo Gallery 
THE RUNDOWN
WACO, Texas - Baylor baseball started its 2015 season on a good note with an 8-6 win over No. 13 Cal Poly Friday night at Baylor Ballpark. The Bears (1-0) used a three-run eighth inning to take the final lead over the Mustangs (0-1).
Baylor held the lead two times before finally grabbing a firm hold in the eighth. Entering the frame tied 5-5 after Cal Poly's seventh-inning run, Jonathan Ducoff led off for Baylor by reaching on a wild pitch strikeout. Cameron Miller backed it up with a rope down the right field line to leave a first and third situation for Steven McLean. For the second time in the game, McLean scored a run on a sacrifice fly to center field. A Justin Arrington walk later, Logan Brown delivered the big knock by smashing a two-run, two-out triple down the left field line for an 8-5 lead.
With Nick Lewis already on the mound after 2.1 innings of relief, Sean Spicer came on to attempt his first career save after Lewis allowed back-to-back singles for a run. Spicer calmly painted the strike zone to retire the next three hitters in a row to seal the win.
Lewis (1-0) picked up the victory after allowing two runs on four hits with two strikeouts and no walks. Spicer pitched a perfect ninth to earn his first collegiate save. BU starter Drew Tolson tossed four frames in a no-decision, allowing four runs on seven hits and one walk with three strikeouts.
A 12-game winner with a 1.56 ERA last season, Cal Poly starter Casey Bloomquist took a no-decision after giving up five runs on four hits and four walks with three strikeouts. Danny Zandona took the loss (0-1), surrendering two runs on two hits and one walk with three strikeouts.
NOTES
*Baylor is 16-8 against ranked teams at home since 2012 and 28-27 against ranked teams overall since 2011.
*Baylor won the first-ever meeting between the two teams and now leads the series vs. Cal Poly 1-0 - the teams have a combined 2,797 all-time wins.
*Baylor is 16-5 in home openers under Steve Smith and has won nine of its last 10.
*Baylor is 138-70 in February under Smith.
*Baylor had six players make their debuts in a Bear uniform: Kameron Esthay, Jonathan Ducoff, Cameron Miller, Steven McLean, Justin Arrington and Kody Hessemer - with the first five all earning starts on opening day.
*Cameron Miller went 2-for-3 in his debut with two runs, a walk and threw out his first career base stealer on his first attempt behind the plate.
*Steven McLean had two RBI on a pair of sac flies in his debut.
*Adam Toth had two productive outs for a pair of RBI.
*Kameron Esthay achieved his first career hit in the third inning on single to center in his debut.
*Justin Arrington tallied his first Baylor run scored and RBI in his debut.
*Darryn Sheppard went 2-for-4 with two runs and a walk to tie a career high in hits for the fifth time - as leadoff man for the Bears he hit the first pitch of BU's season off the center field wall for a double and came around to score.
*Logan Brown went 2-for-3 with two RBI, a walk and run scored.
*Jonathan Ducoff scored a pair of runs after reaching base on swinging strikeouts twice in his debut.
*Kody Hessemer tossed 0.2 scoreless, hitless innings in his Baylor debut.
*Sean Spicer earned his first career save in his first career attempt in his 31st career appearance.
STAT OF THE GAME
15 - The amount of free bases Cal Poly allowed Baylor to have.
TWEET OF THE GAME
TOP QUOTE
"We were trading runs for outs and they were getting runs with hits. We finally got that hit, that big hit. I couldn't see it too well but it looked like it was close on the line over there. But good for [Logan Brown] - he had some good at-bats, he played well. It was an enjoyable game to watch and the guys played hard. I only felt like there were a couple of guys that it just got a little fast for. Other than that it was really pleasing to watch the game." - BU head coach Steve Smith
WHAT'S NEXT
Baylor takes on No. 13 Cal Poly at 3 p.m. CT tomorrow and noon Sunday to finish the season-opening series. The pitching matchups feature BU RHP Ryan Smith (2014: 0-1, 3.63 ERA) vs. CP RHP Slater Lee (2014: 3-2, 6.20 ERA) for Saturday and BU's unannounced starter vs. CP RHP Justin Calomeni (2014: 8-2, 3.68 ERA) for Sunday.
-BU-
