Baylor
Texas State
Baseball Falls to Texas State 7-4
5/12/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 12, 2004
WACO, Texas - Baylor failed to overcome an early inning deficit Wednesday in a 7-4 loss to Texas State at Baylor Ballpark. The loss drops the Bears to 23-25 on the season, while Texas State improves to 28-21.
The Bobcats built a 4-0 lead with a run in the second and three in the third and then withstood every Baylor rally attempt. Texas State answered Baylor's two-run fourth with a run in the fifth, responded to the Bears' run in the bottom of the fifth with two in the sixth and then weathered a one-run Baylor eighth.
Baylor starter Jared Theodorakos (3-3) was saddled with the loss after allowing four runs, three earned, on four hits and a walk with one strikeout in 2.2 innings. Ryan LaMotta, the first of six Baylor relievers, was touched for three runs on five hits and a walk with two strikeouts in 3.0 innings.
The Bears' final five relievers - Zane Carlson, Cory VanAllen, Ryan Bennett, Russell Reichenbach and Abe Woody - held Texas State scoreless on one hit over the final 3.1 innings. VanAllen struck out the side in the seventh.
Texas State starter Joey Gonzalez (3-2) was efficient with 63 pitches in a 5.0-inning outing; he allowed three runs on six hits with one walk and one strikeout. Gabe Wisneski, the last of four Bobcat relievers, surrendered one hit with a strikeout in the ninth for his fourth save of the season.
After a Mark Cooper leadoff single in the second, Richard Martinez doubled down the third-base line on a questionable fair ball call. Theodorakos was able to work out of the jam, allowing only one run in the inning.
However, the Bobcats got to the senior southpaw in the third. With the bases loaded and one out, Theodorakos got a double-play ball to second baseman Drew Sutton; however, Paul Witt's turn at second was wide of first, allowing two runs to score. Martinez followed with another double down the line in left, plating another run.
Close plays continued to go Texas State's way in the sixth. With two on and two out, Evan Tierce lifted a Texas Leaguer into shallow left-center. Reid Brees charged from left and made a diving attempt at the ball, which hit off the end of Brees' glove for a two-run double.
The night did not start off well for the Bears. After a Drew Sutton walk and a Brees single to start the bottom of the first, Michael Griffin grounded into a third-to-second-to-first triple play.
Griffin finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored, while Tyler Bullock was 2-for-4 with three RBI thanks to a two-run single in the fourth and an RBI double in the eighth. Paul Witt was 2-for-4 with a solo home run in the fifth, his first of the year, and Brees added two hits.
Baylor returns to action this weekend, hosting Nebraska for a three-game series at Baylor Ballpark. The Bears and the Huskers meet Friday at 7 p.m. CDT, Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.
NOTES: Baylor leads the all-time series 33-13 overall and 27-11 in Waco. The teams split the season series one game apiece. ... Josh Ford saw his career-long nine-game hitting streak end. ... Drew Sutton also saw his five-game streak halt. ... Reid Brees extended his streak to six games. ... Paul Witt's home run was his first since May 18, 2003, a span of 36 games and 130 at bats. ... Wednesday was Baylor's first loss in six games this season in which the first-pitch temperature was 80-plus degrees.
