March 10, 2002

Box Score

WACO, Texas - 14th-ranked Baylor scored six runs in the first inning and held on for a 9-6 win over eighth-ranked Nebraska Sunday at Baylor Ballpark.

With the victory, the Bears (12-6, 4-2 Big 12) took the series from the Huskers (8-5, 1-2 Big 12). Nebraska, the defending Big 12 champions, pounded Baylor Friday night, 15-4, but the Bears took game two Saturday, 2-1, and claimed game three on Sunday.

For the second straight day, Baylor got an outstanding performance from its starting pitcher. Jared Theodorakos (2-1) went six innings, allowing just four hits and one run. The junior lefty struck out eight and walked two on the day.

After the Huskers scored a single run in the top of the first, the Bears jumped all over Nebraska starter Jason Burch (1-1) in the bottom of the inning, scoring six runs (all earned) and knocking the righty out after he recorded just one out. Burch gave up four hits and two walks in his 1/3 of an inning, with the key hit being a three-run homer by Chris Durbin.

Aaron Marsden relieved Burch and threw 5 2/3 effective innings, allowing just two runs. Baylor carried that 9-1 lead into the eighth, when the first three men reached against Paul Thorp. Zane Carlson replaced Thorp and gave up two hits while recording only one out. With the tying run on deck, Kyle Edens took the mound and retired all five batters he faced (including two strikeouts) to pick up his fifth save of the year.

Baylor's No. 3 through 6 batters in the lineup combined to go 9-for-15 with seven runs scored and seven RBI. Mike Huggins paced the Bears with three hits on the day, while Durbin and Ross Bennett each drove in three runs to lead the team.

The Bears begin a stretch of five games in six days on Tuesday, when they host Southwest Texas at 7 p.m. at Baylor Ballpark. Baylor plays at UT-Arlington Wednesday in a make-up of a weather-postponed game from earlier this season, then returns to Big 12 play next weekend by hosting Kansas.