Feb. 23, 2002
Box Score
WACO, Texas - After leading most of the game, it took a Paul Richmond RBI single in the bottom of the ninth for 17th-ranked Baylor to pull out a 9-8 win over Oral Roberts Saturday afternoon at Baylor Ballpark.
Baylor (6-4) led Oral Roberts (7-5) by a score of 8-6 heading to the top of the ninth. After one away, ORU left fielder Chad Stewart doubled to right. With two outs, right fielder Wilton Reynolds hit a two-run home run off Baylor reliever Zane Carlson (1-0) to tie the game. Carlson struck out the next batter swinging to get out of the inning.
In the bottom of the ninth, two walks and a beautiful bunt single by shortstop Trey Webb loaded the bases with nobody out against ORU relief pitcher Andrew Sanderson (1-2). The side-arming Sanderson struck out Chris Durbin for the first out and was then replaced on the mound by Troy Pickford. On a 1-1 pitch, Richmond singled over the first baseman's head down the right field line to drive in pinch-runner Paul Witt with the winning run.
The tying home-run given up by Carlson kept starter Jared Theodorakos from picking up his second win of the season. The junior lefty went five innings, allowing four runs ib seven hits and three walks but with a 7-4 lead.
Cody Hall got two outs in relief of Theodorakos but also gave up two hits and two runs. Carlson followed Hall, throwing 3 1/3 innings and striking out four with no walks. He allowed just three hits, but the two in the ninth nearly proved to be the difference in the game.
Oral Roberts struggled in the field for the second straight day. Friday evening, the Golden Eagles made four errors, Saturday, they made five, leading to four unearned runs, all off starter Michael Rogers. Rogers gave up eight runs in 5 1/3 innings, striking out five but allowing 11 hits.
It was the corner outfielders who kept ORU in the game. Stewart and Reynolds combined for seven of the team's 12 hits and drove in seven of their eight runs, including the final two in the ninth.
Three Bears each recorded three hits on the day: Webb, Durbin and Richmond. Ross Bennett, Michael Griffin and Eric Errante (whose walk led off the ninth) each had two hits for Baylor. In all, the Bears pounded out 16 hits, but the home team left 12 men on base.
Baylor will look to complete the three-game sweep of Oral Roberts when the two teams square off in the series finale Sunday at 2 p.m. at Baylor Ballpark.
