Baylor
Arizona
Clutch Hits Power Baylor's Comeback Win Over Arizona
2/8/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 8, 2003
TUCSON, Ariz. - A pair of clutch two-out hits by Chris Durbin and Trey Webb propelled 10th-ranked Baylor past Arizona for its first win of the season, a 12-10, 10-inning affair Saturday afternoon.
The win snapped a two-game losing streak for Baylor (1-2) to open the season. Arizona (3-2), meanwhile, had a three-game winning streak stopped with the loss.
Trailing 10-9 with two outs in the ninth, Baylor sophomore Paul Witt reached on an infield single. Durbin followed with a two-strike double to left that brought home Witt and forced extra innings.
In the 10th, Webb doubled home Josh Ford and Michael Griffin after two outs for the final margin of victory. Freshman Abe Woody (1-0) closed it out for the Bears, pitching four innings and allowing just one run for his first collegiate win.
Baylor's offense pounded out 21 hits, the most for the Bears since 21-hit day against Winthrop last March. The Bears also took advantage of three Wildcat errors, scoring five unearned runs.
Baylor struck early, scoring four times in the top of the second. After Arizona tied the game with a run in the second and three more in the third, the Bears reclaimed the lead at 5-3 in the fourth on a two-run homer by David Murphy, his first of the young season.
The Bears added on three more runs in the sixth, taking a seemingly-safe 9-4 lead. The Wildcats, however, reared their heads again, scoring once in the sixth and five times in the seventh.
After starter Trey Taylor had gone the first six innings, freshman Mark McCormick made his first collegiate appearance coming in to start the seventh. McCormick faced four batters, giving up two hits and two walks; all four runners would come into score as Arizona took a 10-9 lead before the end of the inning.
Woody followed McCormick and finished out the game, striking out three with no walks and two hits allowed. The redshirt freshman retired the side in order in the 10th.
Durbin tied his career high with four hits, including two doubles, while Ross Bennett, Webb and Witt had three hits apiece.
Sophomore Mark Worrell (0-1) took the loss after blowing the save opportunity in the ninth and giving up both runs in the 10th innings.
Baylor and Arizona meet in the rubber game of the series Sunday at 2 p.m. CT.
