Errors Cost Bears in Series Finale at Texas
4/19/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 18, 2004
AUSTIN, Texas - A four-run second inning propelled top-ranked Texas to an 11-1 mercy-rule victory over Baylor in the series finale of the teams' Big 12 Conference series Sunday at Disch-Falk Field. The Longhorns (38-5, 11-3) claim the series, two games to one, with the victory. Baylor falls to 16-21 overall with the loss, 6-8 in league play.
Texas scored the four runs in the second on just one hit. A bases-loaded walk, a wild pitch, a groundout and a dropped fly ball in center scored the four runs. The Longhorns added a run in the fourth, four more in the fifth and ended the game with a two-spot in the bottom of the seventh.
The Bears' lone run came on a Michael Griffin leadoff home run in the fourth, his second homer of the weekend. Griffin had two of Baylor's four hits. Zach Dillon and Paul Witt had the other two hits.
Longhorn starter J.P. Howell (8-1) went the distance, allowing one run on four hits and a walk with a career-high 12 strikeouts.
Baylor starter Jared Theodorakos (3-2) was touched for four runs, three earned, on only one hit and two walks with one strikeout in 2.0 innings. All four Baylor pitchers surrendered at least one run. Four of UT's 11 runs were unearned.
The Bears return to action Tuesday, hosting first-year NCAA Division I member Dallas Baptist for a 6 p.m. CDT contest at Baylor Ballpark.
NOTES: This was the 312th meeting between Baylor and Texas, the most-played series in Baylor baseball history. Texas now leads the series 214-94-4 overall and 130-31-1 at Austin. ... Michael Griffin extended his season-long hitting streak to 16 games, the longest run by a Bear this season and a tie of his career long. Griffin has reached safely in 31 consecutive games and has hit safely in 12 consecutive Big 12 games. ... Kyle Reynolds snapped his hitting streak at 10 games, one shy of his career long. It marked the first time in his last 15 starts that Reynolds went hitless. ... Paul Witt pushed his hitting streak to nine games, extending his career long streak.
