March 8, 2005
Box Score
WACO, Texas - Baylor left eight runners on base, including six in scoring position, and an eighth-inning rally came up short as the 19th-ranked Bears dropped a 5-4 decision to Northwestern State at Baylor Ballpark. With the win, Northwestern State (14-5) posted its 11th win in its last 12 games and its second win against a ranked opponent this season. Baylor (8-7) has dropped three of four.
Trailing 5-2, the Bears led off the eighth with a Michael Griffin walk and a Kyle Reynolds bunt single. After a Josh Ford foul out, Reid Brees walked to load the bases. Zach Dillon provided a pinch-hit sacrifice fly, and Kevin Russo beat out an infield hit to score another run. However, the Bears could get no closer and dropped their second one-run game of the season after starting the year 3-0 in such games.
Baylor starter Sean Walker (1-2) did not make it out of the second inning, allowing hits to five of six batters to start the frame. The only out recorded in that span was on a sacrifice bunt. Walker allowed three runs with a strikeout in 1.1 innings of work.
The Bears answered Northwestern State's three-run second with two runs in the bottom of the inning. Kevin Sevigny provided both Baylor runs with a two-run home run to left, his first of the season.
From there, Andy Pape shut down the Demon bats in the middle innings to keep the Bears close. Pape pitched 4.2 perfect innings with three strikeouts. However, Jeff Mandel was not able to retire any of the three batters he faced to lead off the seventh. Two of the runs scored, including one on a dropped infield popup.
Northwestern State starter Rusty Jones (2-0) earned the victory; he allowed two runs on six hits in 5.1 innings. Daniel Desclouds notched his fourth save of the season, allowing a hit and a walk in the game's final 1.2 innings.
Griffin and Russo both collected two hits on the night.
Baylor returns to action this weekend, traveling to Nashville, Tenn., for a three-game series at No. 8 Vanderbilt. The Bears and the Commodores meet Friday at 4 p.m. CST, Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.
NOTES: Baylor leads the all-time series 9-7 overall and 6-4 in games played in Waco. Tuesday's loss snapped a three-game Baylor winning streak in the series. ... Sevigny's home run was his first since April 23, 2004, ending a drought of 24 games and 57 at bats. ... Baylor drops to 3-2 this season in one-run games. ... The Bears are 1-5 this season when the starting pitcher does not last five innings. ... Baylor falls to 2-6 when the opponent scores first. ... Griffin extended his hitting streak to six games, the longest by a Bear this season. ... Ford also extended his hitting streak to five games. ... Dillon saw his career-long tying five-game hitting streak end. ... Ryan LaMotta made his 68th career appearance and passed Paul Thorp (2000-02) for 10th all-time at Baylor. LaMotta also passed Frank Foltyn (1989-92) for fifth all-time at Baylor with his 65th career relief appearance. ... Tuesday was Walker's 36th career start; that puts him in a tie with Aaron Lineweaver (1993-95) for 10th all-time at Baylor.
