May 27, 2006

Box Score

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - Beamer Weems' three-run home run in the top of the sixth gave Baylor a four-run cushion en route to a 5-3 victory over Texas Tech in Saturday's pool play action at the Big 12 Conference Tournament. The Bears (35-24) snapped a season-long five-game skid with the win to finish third in Division 1 of the tournament. Texas Tech (31-26-1) has lost six straight.

It was Weems' third home run and fifth extra-base hit of the tournament. He became the first Baylor player to hit three home runs in a Big 12 Tournament and matched David Murphy's school-record career mark in just one tournament. The homer was Weems' seventh of the season, the most by a Baylor freshman since Michael Griffin also had seven in 2002.

"Beamer is one of a number of really, really talented freshmen in this league," Baylor head coach Steve Smith said. "What goes unnoticed a lot of times is his defense. When a guy goes through an entire conference season and conference tournament and makes only one error at shortstop, that's nothing short of phenomenal."

Weems, who has not made an error against a Big 12 team since the first inning of the April 2 series finale at Texas Tech and has not made a fielding error since the second game of the season, was 5-for-9 with four runs, two doubles, three home runs, six RBI, 16 total bases and a 1.778 slugging percentage in three Big 12 Tournament games.

With Saturday's victory, Baylor reaches the 35-win plateau for the eighth time in the last nine seasons. The Bears also have posted at least one victory in four consecutive Big 12 tournaments.

"For the record, I felt good yesterday, the day before and the day before that," Smith said when asked if he felt good about Baylor's chances of making the NCAA Tournament for a Big 12-best eighth time since the league's inception in 1997. "And I will be phenomenally disappointed if Kansas and Missouri don't get in, as well. It would be a slap in the face of this league."

Chase Gerdes, who also finished 5-for-9 in the tournament, broke a 1-1 tie with a one-out RBI single in the sixth. After Mike Pankratz was called out on strikes, Weems blasted a three-run shot into the Texas Tech bullpen in left-center, making the Raiders pay for an error to start the inning.

Texas Tech got a run back in the sixth and threatened for more in the seventh as Roger Kieschnick and James Leverton reached to open the inning. Jake Weghorst then entered the game and induced a Kevin Russo-to-Ben Booker-to-Tim Jackson double play. Trey Smart followed with a pinch-hit RBI single, and Joey Callender singled to put runners on the corners. However, Weghorst struck out Willie Rueda to end the inning.

Baylor also avoided damage with a double play in the fifth as Tech nine-hole batter Jason Seefeld negated consecutive one-out singles by hitting into a Weems-to-Booker-to-Jackson double play. The Bears have turned 56 double plays this season, most of any Big 12 team.

The Raiders threatened once more in the ninth as Leverton and Kyle Martin matched their fifth-inning accomplishment with consecutive one-out singles. However, Nick Cassavechia quelled the threat with a strikeout of Smart and a game-ending ground out from Callender.

Baylor starter Cory VanAllen (7-5) allowed three runs on seven hits and a walk with two strikeouts over 6.0-plus innings, facing two batters in the seventh. Cassavechia notched his team-best eighth save of the season. Weghorst extended his streak of consecutive relief appearances without allowing a run to 14 outings, an 18.2-inning stretch.

"Cory competed really well," Smith said. "This is not an easy park in which to pitch, especially with the wind blowing out like it has been this week. We've been playing well; we just haven't gotten the big hit. Today we did."

Baylor took the game's first lead with a run in the top of the third. Weems walked to leadoff the inning and moved to second on Booker's sacrifice fly. Russo followed with an RBI single to center.

Tech quickly answered on Martin's one-out solo home run in the bottom of the inning.

Russo and Kevin Sevigny each had two-hit days; the former extended his hitting streak to 10 games, a career-long run within one season. Martin led the Raiders at the plate, going 3-for-4. Texas Tech starter Colt Hynes (5-3) was saddled with the tough-luck loss, allowing five runs, only one of which was earned, on six hits and three walks with four strikeouts over 5.2 innings.

Baylor now awaits word from the NCAA Selection Committee. Bids to the 2006 NCAA Tournament will be announced Monday, May 29, at 11:30 a.m. CDT on ESPN.

NOTES: Texas Tech leads the all-time series 67-63, including a 19-14 advantage since the inception of the Big 12 in 1997. Baylor is 4-2 all-time against Tech in conference tournaments, including a 3-1 edge at the Big 12 Tournament. ... Baylor is 16-26 against Texas Tech under Smith. Tech and Oklahoma (18-19) are the only Big 12 teams against which Baylor has a sub-.500 record during Smith's tenure. ... Chase Gerdes (five games), Seth Fortenberry (four) and Weems (three) all extended hitting streaks.