March 4, 2008
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WACO, Texas -- Clay Alexander's pinch-hit, two-run double keyed a five-run ninth inning as Louisiana Tech rallied past No. 11 Baylor 9-6 Tuesday night at Baylor Ballpark. The loss snapped a season-opening, seven-game winning streak for the Bears, who saw a 10-game winning streak in home games come to an end.
Baylor scored single unearned runs in the seventh and eighth innings to take a 6-4 lead, but Louisiana Tech (7-3) had the final say in the ninth. Clint Stubbs' one-out, two-run single through the left side tied the game at 6-6. Two batters and one out later, Alexander lobbed a double just over Baylor first baseman Dustin Dickerson's head and just inside the right-field line to give the Bulldogs an 8-6 lead. Patrick Thomas followed with an RBI single to right.
Nick Cassavechia (0-1) was saddled with the loss after blowing a save for only the fifth time in 27 career opportunities. He allowed four runs on two hits and two walks in 1.0 inning. Erik Forestiere allowed the final run of the night on two hits over 0.1 innings. The Bears' bullpen allowed five earned runs in ninth after allowing just five earned runs in 26.1 innings through the season's first seven games.
Aaron Lorio (1-1) earned the victory for Louisiana Tech, allowing an unearned run on one hit with two strikeouts over 2.0 innings.
Baylor starter Tim Matthews allowed four runs, three earned, on five hits and no walks with three strikeouts over 3.2 innings. He gave way to Craig Fritsch, who held Louisiana Tech scoreless on two hits and two walks over 4.0 innings. After a shaky first inning, Louisiana Tech starter Alan Knotts settled down and recorded seven strikeouts against two walks and six hits over 5.0 innings.
Cobb led off the game with his fifth home run of the season; it was his third leadoff home run in 10 games this season. Baylor quickly answered with four runs in the bottom of the inning on Adam Hornung's two-run single, Dickerson's one-run single and a balk. Louisiana Tech got two runs in the top of the second on RBI singles by Thomas and Cobb; the Bulldogs pulled even with an unearned run in the fourth.
The Bears broke the 4-4 tie in the seventh when Beamer Weems reached second on a dropped fly ball, moved to third on another error and scored on a first-and-third double steal. Gregg Glime reached to lead off the eighth on another dropped fly ball. After Shaver Hansen's sacrifice bunt moved Glime to third, Paul Miles scored Glime with a safety squeeze bunt.
Landis Ware (2-for-4) was the only Baylor player with a multiple-hit game.
Baylor and Louisiana Tech meet again Wednesday at 4 p.m. CST. The Bears send right-hander Wade Mackey (1-0, 0.00 ERA) to the mound, while the Bulldogs counter with right-hander Luke Burnett (0-0, 8.90 ERA).
NOTES: The all-time series is tied 2-2. Louisiana Tech is the only current member of the Western Athletic Conference Baylor has ever faced. ... Tuesday's loss snapped Baylor's five-game winning streak in home games in which the opponent scored in the first inning. ... Ben Booker extended his hitting streak to six games.
