Friday, March 13
Waco, Texas
6:30 PM
Baylor
11-6, 1-0
7
vs
6
West Virginia
11-4, 0-1
1st innning1
2nd innning2
3rd innning3
4th innning4
5th innning5
6th innning6
7th innning7
8th innning8
9th innning9
RunsR
HitsH
ErrorsE
West Virginia
0
0
1
3
0
1
0
0
1
6
10
1
Baylor
0
1
0
5
1
0
0
0
X
7
11
0
BSB Knocks Off No. 22 West Virginia, 7-6
3/13/2026 11:09:00 PM | Baseball
Sanders drives in career-high four runs as Bears erase early deficit to collect ranked victory
WACO, Texas – Behind a career-high four RBIs from redshirt junior infielder Travis Sanders, Baylor baseball collected its second ranked win of the year, knocking off No. 22 West Virginia, 7-6, on Friday night at Magnolia Field at Baylor Ballpark in Waco.
The Bears (11-6, 1-0 Big 12) erased an early 4-1 deficit with a five-run bottom of the fourth and never looked back, holding on to claim the upset victory. WVU (11-4, 0-1) brought the tying run to the plate in the top of the ninth, but fifth-year senior right-hander Caleb Bunch buckled down to collect his second save of the year.
Sanders led the way offensively with three hits and a career-high four RBIs, while redshirt freshman infielder Brytton Clements and sophomore infielder Cade Dodson each added two knocks at the bottom of the order.
After redshirt junior righty Lucas Davenport reached his pitch count, sophomore right-hander Zack Wallace worked 2.1 frames and picked up his second victory of the year. Then, junior righty Charlie Atkinson and junior southpaw RJ Ruais bridged the next 2.2 innings to Bunch with scoreless outings in relief.
THE RUNDOWN
After a quiet first inning, Baylor opened the scoring in the bottom of the second with the first of Sanders' four RBIs on the night. The BU shortstop beat out an infield single with the bases loaded that put the Bears ahead, 1-0.
WVU responded in the top of the third as a leadoff walk came around to score on a double play ball and knotted the scoreline at 1-1. An inning later, the Mountaineers put up a three-spot on four hits, including some small ball, to build a 4-1 advantage. An RBI bunt single and RBI sacrifice bunt preceded a two-out run-scoring single that gave WVU some cushion.
However, Baylor countered in the home half of the fourth with a crooked number, sending 10 men to the plate and scoring five runs on four hits and three walks in the inning to go back in front, 6-4. Dodson drove in a run, then Sanders chased in two with a single before sophomore infielder Pearson Riebock brought home another. Redshirt senior first baseman Tyce Armstrong put the cherry on top of the rally with a sacrifice fly, putting BU back ahead heading into the fifth.
That's when Wallace settled in and put up a zero and the Bears tacked on in the bottom of the fifth, as Sanders came through yet again with an RBI single to move the score to 7-4.
WVU came up with solo home runs in the top of the sixth and top of the ninth to pull within one run, but aside from that the BU bullpen was nails as Atkinson, Ruais and Bunch closed things down to give Baylor the Big 12-opening win.
HIGHLIGHTS
• Baylor improved to 15-20 all-time against West Virginia and collected its first win over the Mountaineers since April 10, 2021.
• This is the first win for BU over WVU under fourth-year head coach Mitch Thompson.
• This is Baylor's ninth ranked win of the Thompson Era and second of 2026.
• The Bears have now won 10 in a row at home to start the 2026 campaign and 11 in a row at Baylor Ballpark dating back to the 2025 home finale.
• The 11-game home winning streak is Baylor's longest since 2012, when the Bears won 22 straight at home.
• Baylor scored first for the 11th time this season and improved to 9-2 in games when scoring first.
• The Bears recorded double-digit hits (11) for the eighth time this season.
• Baylor turned its league-leading 17th double play of the season.
• BU stole two bases on the night to move its total to 28 on the year, its most through 17 games since 2011 (34).
• Redshirt junior INF Travis Sanders extended his on-base streak to 22 games, dating back to 2025.
• Sanders notched his team-leading ninth multi-hit game of the year and drove in a career-high four runs for his third multi-RBI effort of 2026.
• Sophomore INF Pearson Riebock has reached base in all 13 games he has played in 2026.
• Freshman OF Brady Janusek has reached base safely in all 17 games for the Bears so far this year.
• Redshirt freshman OF Hunter Snow extended his hitting streak to five games.
• Junior C JJ Kennett reached base for the 10th-consecutive game, dating back to 2025.
• Redshirt freshman INF Brytton Clements extended his on-base streak to eight games and his hitting streak to seven games.
• Clements also recorded his fourth multi-hit game of the season.
• Sophomore INF Cade Dodson collected his first multi-hit game as a Bear.
• Redshirt junior RHP Lucas Davenport struck out five in three innings on the mound. His scoreless innings streak was snapped at 8.2.
• Sophomore RHP Zack Wallace picked up his second win of the season.
• Junior RHP Charlie Atkinson worked his fifth scoreless appearance of the season.
• Junior LHP RJ Ruais notched his sixth scoreless outing of the year.
• Fifth-year RHP Caleb Bunch earned his second save of the year and worked his fourth multi-strikeout outing of 2026.
STAT OF THE DAY
4 – Redshirt junior infielder Travis Sanders drove in a career-high four runs and the Bears scored five runs in the fourth inning to take the lead which they would not relinquish.
QUOTABLE
Head Coach Mitch Thompson
On tonight's win…
"Well, it is just one game, but it's the most important game today … I love the fight. That's a heck of a response. Friday nights have been tough around here the last several years. But I'm just telling you, when you're playing a really good team, and early in the game there couldn't have been much more go wrong (for us) … To have the response that we had and come back against their best guy out of the bullpen was really satisfying. And then the way the guys continued to pitch the rest of the way was awesome."
Redshirt Junior INF Travis Sanders
On having the bottom of the order get on base in front of him…
"Production at the bottom of the lineup is really critical. They get me up there with guys on, and then I can do my job to get guys in. Good stuff from the bottom of the lineup … I can go all up and down the lineup. Really proud of these guys, getting competitive at-bats and putting together at-bats when you can get on base and be able to cash in."
Fifth-Year Senior RHP Caleb Bunch
On his mentality in the ninth inning…
"Honestly, just going out there and executing pitches, letting my guys work behind me. They provided those seven runs throughout the game, so trusting those guys and letting them help me get through it. I've been playing the game a long time, and when I have these guys backing me up like that, just knowing that I can go right back in, if a ball's put in play they're going to help me out."
WHAT'S NEXT
Baylor (11-6, 1-0) and No. 22 West Virginia (11-4, 0-1) return for game two of the weekend series on Saturday, March 14, at 2 p.m. from Magnolia Field at Baylor Ballpark in Waco.
To stay up to date on all things Baylor baseball, follow the team on its official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts: @BaylorBaseball.
The Bears (11-6, 1-0 Big 12) erased an early 4-1 deficit with a five-run bottom of the fourth and never looked back, holding on to claim the upset victory. WVU (11-4, 0-1) brought the tying run to the plate in the top of the ninth, but fifth-year senior right-hander Caleb Bunch buckled down to collect his second save of the year.
Sanders led the way offensively with three hits and a career-high four RBIs, while redshirt freshman infielder Brytton Clements and sophomore infielder Cade Dodson each added two knocks at the bottom of the order.
After redshirt junior righty Lucas Davenport reached his pitch count, sophomore right-hander Zack Wallace worked 2.1 frames and picked up his second victory of the year. Then, junior righty Charlie Atkinson and junior southpaw RJ Ruais bridged the next 2.2 innings to Bunch with scoreless outings in relief.
THE RUNDOWN
After a quiet first inning, Baylor opened the scoring in the bottom of the second with the first of Sanders' four RBIs on the night. The BU shortstop beat out an infield single with the bases loaded that put the Bears ahead, 1-0.
WVU responded in the top of the third as a leadoff walk came around to score on a double play ball and knotted the scoreline at 1-1. An inning later, the Mountaineers put up a three-spot on four hits, including some small ball, to build a 4-1 advantage. An RBI bunt single and RBI sacrifice bunt preceded a two-out run-scoring single that gave WVU some cushion.
However, Baylor countered in the home half of the fourth with a crooked number, sending 10 men to the plate and scoring five runs on four hits and three walks in the inning to go back in front, 6-4. Dodson drove in a run, then Sanders chased in two with a single before sophomore infielder Pearson Riebock brought home another. Redshirt senior first baseman Tyce Armstrong put the cherry on top of the rally with a sacrifice fly, putting BU back ahead heading into the fifth.
That's when Wallace settled in and put up a zero and the Bears tacked on in the bottom of the fifth, as Sanders came through yet again with an RBI single to move the score to 7-4.
WVU came up with solo home runs in the top of the sixth and top of the ninth to pull within one run, but aside from that the BU bullpen was nails as Atkinson, Ruais and Bunch closed things down to give Baylor the Big 12-opening win.
HIGHLIGHTS
• Baylor improved to 15-20 all-time against West Virginia and collected its first win over the Mountaineers since April 10, 2021.
• This is the first win for BU over WVU under fourth-year head coach Mitch Thompson.
• This is Baylor's ninth ranked win of the Thompson Era and second of 2026.
• The Bears have now won 10 in a row at home to start the 2026 campaign and 11 in a row at Baylor Ballpark dating back to the 2025 home finale.
• The 11-game home winning streak is Baylor's longest since 2012, when the Bears won 22 straight at home.
• Baylor scored first for the 11th time this season and improved to 9-2 in games when scoring first.
• The Bears recorded double-digit hits (11) for the eighth time this season.
• Baylor turned its league-leading 17th double play of the season.
• BU stole two bases on the night to move its total to 28 on the year, its most through 17 games since 2011 (34).
• Redshirt junior INF Travis Sanders extended his on-base streak to 22 games, dating back to 2025.
• Sanders notched his team-leading ninth multi-hit game of the year and drove in a career-high four runs for his third multi-RBI effort of 2026.
• Sophomore INF Pearson Riebock has reached base in all 13 games he has played in 2026.
• Freshman OF Brady Janusek has reached base safely in all 17 games for the Bears so far this year.
• Redshirt freshman OF Hunter Snow extended his hitting streak to five games.
• Junior C JJ Kennett reached base for the 10th-consecutive game, dating back to 2025.
• Redshirt freshman INF Brytton Clements extended his on-base streak to eight games and his hitting streak to seven games.
• Clements also recorded his fourth multi-hit game of the season.
• Sophomore INF Cade Dodson collected his first multi-hit game as a Bear.
• Redshirt junior RHP Lucas Davenport struck out five in three innings on the mound. His scoreless innings streak was snapped at 8.2.
• Sophomore RHP Zack Wallace picked up his second win of the season.
• Junior RHP Charlie Atkinson worked his fifth scoreless appearance of the season.
• Junior LHP RJ Ruais notched his sixth scoreless outing of the year.
• Fifth-year RHP Caleb Bunch earned his second save of the year and worked his fourth multi-strikeout outing of 2026.
STAT OF THE DAY
4 – Redshirt junior infielder Travis Sanders drove in a career-high four runs and the Bears scored five runs in the fourth inning to take the lead which they would not relinquish.
QUOTABLE
Head Coach Mitch Thompson
On tonight's win…
"Well, it is just one game, but it's the most important game today … I love the fight. That's a heck of a response. Friday nights have been tough around here the last several years. But I'm just telling you, when you're playing a really good team, and early in the game there couldn't have been much more go wrong (for us) … To have the response that we had and come back against their best guy out of the bullpen was really satisfying. And then the way the guys continued to pitch the rest of the way was awesome."
Redshirt Junior INF Travis Sanders
On having the bottom of the order get on base in front of him…
"Production at the bottom of the lineup is really critical. They get me up there with guys on, and then I can do my job to get guys in. Good stuff from the bottom of the lineup … I can go all up and down the lineup. Really proud of these guys, getting competitive at-bats and putting together at-bats when you can get on base and be able to cash in."
Fifth-Year Senior RHP Caleb Bunch
On his mentality in the ninth inning…
"Honestly, just going out there and executing pitches, letting my guys work behind me. They provided those seven runs throughout the game, so trusting those guys and letting them help me get through it. I've been playing the game a long time, and when I have these guys backing me up like that, just knowing that I can go right back in, if a ball's put in play they're going to help me out."
WHAT'S NEXT
Baylor (11-6, 1-0) and No. 22 West Virginia (11-4, 0-1) return for game two of the weekend series on Saturday, March 14, at 2 p.m. from Magnolia Field at Baylor Ballpark in Waco.
To stay up to date on all things Baylor baseball, follow the team on its official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts: @BaylorBaseball.
-BaylorBears.com-
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Wallace, Zack (2-0)
L: Bassinger, Reese (1-1)
S: Bunch, Caleb (2)
Batting:
2B: Hall, Tyrus 1 ; Smith, Sean 1 ; Wills, Brock 1
HR: Smith, Sean 1 ; Ineich, Matt 1
RBI: Kelly, Gavin 1 ; Guzman, Armani 1 ; Hall, Tyrus 1 ; Smith, Sean 1 ; Ineich, Matt 1
SH: Hall, Tyrus 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Guzman, Armani 1 ; Hall, Tyrus 1 ; Smith, Sean 2 ; Wills, Brock 1 ; Ineich, Matt 1
SB: Guzman, Armani 1
Batting:
3B: Dodson, Cade 1 ; Armstrong, Tyce 1
RBI: Dodson, Cade 1 ; Riebock, Pearson 1 ; Sanders, Travis 4 ; Armstrong, Tyce 1
SF: Armstrong, Tyce 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Clements, Brytton 1 ; Dodson, Cade 2 ; Kennett, JJ 1 ; Sanders, Travis 1 ; Johnson, Ty 2
SB: Sanders, Travis 1 ; Johnson, Ty 1
HBP: Kennett, JJ 1 ; Riebock, Pearson 1
Game Leaders
AB
5
R
1
H
3
RBI
4
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
1B
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
C
/ BaseballINF/OF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
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