Baylor
Vanderbilt
Bats Erupt as Baseball Blanks Vandy 12-0
3/12/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 12, 2004
WACO, Texas - Josh Ford's two-out, two-strike single up the middle plated two runs in the bottom of the first and opened the floodgates as Baylor pounded Vanderbilt 12-0 here Friday night in the first game of a three-game weekend series.
Baylor (5-11) posted season highs in runs and hits (13), snapping a six-game losing streak in the process. Vanderbilt (11-2), which had averaged 9.3 runs per game this season, was shutout for the first time since a 2-0 loss at South Carolina last March.
The Bears got to Jeremy Sowers, the nation's top-rated left-handed pitcher, early and often, touching the all-American for eight runs on nine hits in 3.0 innings. It was the shortest outing for Sowers (3-1) since March 22, 2002 (2.0 innings at Georgia), and the Bears put an end to his 15.0 consecutive-inning scoreless streak.
Meanwhile, Baylor starter Mark McCormick (1-2) enjoyed his best outing of the season, carrying a no-hitter into the fifth before Aaron Garza laced a double to left-center with two outs in the frame. That was the only hit McCormick allowed in his 6.0 innings; he walked four and struck out three. Zane Carlson scattered a pair of hits over the final 3.0 innings for his third save of the season.
Baylor added two runs in the second and four more in the third, scoring in three consecutive innings for the first time this season. Kevin Sevigny had the big hit in the third, a two-run double down the line in left. The Bears poured on another four-spot in the fifth on Drew Sutton's three-run home run to right-center and a Jared Clements RBI single.
Sutton finished 3-for-4 with three runs and three RBI. Michael Griffin, Clements and Sevigny had two hits each, and Paul With went 1-for-3 with three runs scored.
Baylor and Vanderbilt meet again Saturday at 3 p.m. Southpaw Trey Taylor (2-2) starts on the hill for Baylor opposite right-hander Jensen Lewis (2-0) for the Commodores.
NOTES: Baylor now leads the series 2-0. ... Zane Carlson moved into a tie for sixth in NCAA history with his 37th career save. ... The Bears were hit by a pitch six times Friday night, establishing a school record. The previous mark was five (March 1, 2002 vs. Texas). ... Michael Griffin was hit by a pitch three times, tying Jason Marshall's school mark (Feb. 12, 1993 vs. Texas Lutheran). ... Baylor moves to 2-2 this season when scoring in the first inning. ... The Bears scored more runs Friday night (12) than in their previous five games (11). ... Baylor's 12 runs Friday was the most by the Bears since a 22-4 victory April 22, 2003 against TCU. ... The Bears' 13 hits were their most since getting 13 hits in a 10-8 loss May 25, 2003 against Texas in the Big 12 Tournament championship game.
