March 14, 2008

Box Score | Quotes

WACO, Texas -- Matt Hague and Rebel Ridling homered on consecutive pitches with two outs in the top of the ninth as No. 23 Oklahoma State rallied past No. 10 Baylor 6-5 in Friday night's series opener at Baylor Ballpark. It was the Big 12 Conference opener for both Baylor (11-4, 0-1) and Oklahoma State (11-3, 1-0).

After a leadoff walk to Michael Dabbs, Baylor's Nick Cassavechia got Jordy Mercer to ground into a double play. Cassavechia's first pitch to Hague was a called strike, but Hague hit Cassavechia's next offering off the scoreboard in left-center. Ridling followed with a first-pitch homer to right-center.

Baylor still had a chance in the bottom of the inning as Dustin Dickerson's two-out single put runners on the corners. However, Gregg Glime grounded out to end the game.

That made a winner of Oklahoma State reliever Josh Neal (1-0), who walked one in a scoreless one-third of an inning. Mercer allowed a hit and a walk with one strikeout in the ninth to record his third save of the season. Cassavechia (0-2) took the loss; the two home runs were the only hits he allowed with two walks and a strikeout in 1.1 innings.

Adam Hornung gave Baylor an early edge, leading off the second with the first home run of his Baylor career. That lead stood until the fifth when Oklahoma State scored three runs on a walk and four consecutive two-out hits.

Baylor recaptured the lead with a three-run seventh. Ben Booker's RBI single pulled the Bears to within one run, and an Oklahoma State error allowed two more runs to score as Baylor took a 4-3 lead.

That lead was short-lived, though, as Dean Green's two-out solo home run in the top of the eighth tied the game at 4-4. Baylor again recaptured the lead in the bottom of the eighth on Landis Ware's RBI single.

Neither starter factored in the decision. Baylor's Kendal Volz allowed four runs on nine hits and three walks with 10 strikeouts over 7.2 innings. It was the third double-digit strikeout performance of his career and his second in four starts this season. Oklahoma State's Andrew Oliver allowed four runs, two earned, on seven hits and three walks with 10 strikeouts over 7.0 innings.

Hornung finished the night 3-for-4 with a walk, while Glime and Ware both had two-hit nights.

Baylor and Oklahoma State continue their three-game series Saturday at 6:30 p.m. CDT. The Bears send right-hander Shawn Tolleson (1-0, 7.43 ERA) to the mound. Oklahoma State counters with southpaw Tyler Lyons (2-1, 3.18 ERA).