May 16, 2004
Box Score
WACO, Texas - Josh Ford's second career grand slam keyed a six-run sixth inning as Baylor rallied to defeat Nebraska 9-4 Sunday at Baylor Ballpark. With the win, the Bears (26-25, 13-9) sweep the Huskers (33-19, 10-14) and move above .500 for the first time since sitting 3-2 Feb. 20.
Baylor assures itself a record of at least .500 in Big 12 play for the eighth time in the league's eight-year existence. Only Baylor and Oklahoma State have finished at or above .500 all eight seasons.
The Bears enter the final week of the regular season one-half game behind fourth-place Texas Tech in the Big 12 standings. The Red Raiders (34-17, 14-9) rallied for nine runs in the top of the ninth Sunday at Oklahoma State to defeat the Cowboys 11-8. Texas A&M (38-15, 13-10) defeated Kansas State 11-4 Sunday. Baylor and Tech meet next weekend at Lubbock, while Texas A&M faces Texas in a split series with two games at College Station.
Trailing 3-2 in the sixth, the Bears got consecutive singles from Kyle Reynolds, Reid Brees and Drew Sutton with one out. Nebraska reliever Brett Jensen got a first-pitch strike on Ford, but fell behind with balls on the next two pitches.
Ford lifted the next pitch he saw - a fastball up in the zone - over the 375-feet sign in left center. It was the fourth grand slam of the season for the Bears, three of which have in Big 12 play. It also was Ford's ninth round-tripper of the season as Baylor moves to 8-0 this season in games in which he hits a home run.
After Zach Dillon was hit by a pitch and Mike Pankratz singled up the middle, Paul Witt plated Dillon with a sacrifice fly to right-center. Chase Gerdes then walked, and Michael Griffin followed with an RBI single to right-center to cap the inning.
Brees pushed Baylor's lead to 9-3 with a solo home run in the seventh, his second of the season.
However, Nebraska did not go quietly. The Huskers scratched for a run in the top of the eighth and then loaded the bases with one out in the top of the ninth against reliever Zane Carlson. Abe Woody was summoned from the bullpen, threw one pitch and induced a Griffin-to-Witt-to-Sutton double play to end the game. It was the second save of the series for Woody, who also earned the victory in Saturday's game.
Cory VanAllen (3-2) earned the victory in relief for the Bears, holding Nebraska to one run on three hits and a walk with one strikeout in 3.1 innings. He relieved starter Mark McCormick did not allow a hit in the first three frames but was touched four three runs on four hits in the fourth. He finished with three walks and two strikeouts in 3.2 innings.
Jensen was saddled with the loss for Nebraska, surrendering six runs on five hits with two strikeouts in 4.0 innings. Husker starter Dustin Timm left after only 1.2 innings; he allowed two runs on three hits and a walk with one strikeout.
Baylor took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second thanks to a Brees triple, a Sutton double, a wild pitch and a Ford sacrifice fly. However, Nebraska erased the Bears' advantage with a three-run fourth. An Alex Gordon two-run home run to left-center and a Colin Shockey RBI single provided the runs.
Brees and Sutton both finished 3-for-4 with an RBI and scored three runs and two runs, respectively. Ford drove in five of Baylor's nine runs. All nine starters reached safely and seven had hits.
Gordon paced Nebraska offensively, going 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBI. Joe Simokaitis also had two hits.
Baylor returns to action Tuesday, hosting fourth-ranked Rice for a 7 p.m. CDT first pitch at Baylor Ballpark. The Bears will send southpaw Jared Theodorakos (3-3) to the mound against the Owls.
NOTES: Baylor leads the all-time series 23-14-1, including a 15-4-1 advantage in Waco. The Bears are 8-1 against the Huskers at Baylor Ballpark. ... This is Baylor's first Big 12 series sweep at home since sweeping Kansas State last season. ... Baylor improves to 5-7 on Sundays, 3-5 in Big 12 play. ... Baylor moves to 3-5 in Mark McCormick's eight starts. ... Michael Griffin and Paul Witt both extended hitting streaks to five games. Reid Brees (four games), Mike Pankratz (four), Kyle Reynolds (three) and Drew Sutton (three) also extended hitting streaks. ... The Bears, who lead the Big 12 in team batting average in league games, have collected 10 or more hits in 16 of 22 conference games. ... Reid Brees, Kyle Reynolds and Drew Sutton all extended conference-only hitting streaks to eight games. Michael Griffin (five games), Mike Pankratz (four) and Paul Witt (three) also extended conference-only hitting streaks. ... Reid Brees and Michael Griffin have both hit safely in 19 of 22 Big 12 games.
