May 19, 2008

Complete Release in PDF Format

MAY 21-25 • BRICKTOWN BALLPARK • OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA.

BAYLOR (31-24, 11-16) at BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP

WEDNESDAY: vs. Nebraska (39-12-1, 17-9-1), 4:00 p.m. CDT

FRIDAY: vs. Oklahoma State (40-15, 18-9), 7:30 p.m. CDT

SATURDAY: vs. Kansas State (27-27, 11-16), 7:30 p.m. CDT

Baylor begins postseason play Wednesday, May 21, at the 2008 Big 12 Conference Championship at Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City. The sixth-seeded Bears join second-seeded Oklahoma State, third-seeded Nebraska and seventh-seeded Kansas State in Pool Two. Baylor faces Nebraska at 4 p.m. CDT Wednesday, Oklahoma State at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Kansas State at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. The top team from each pool advances to Sunday's 1 p.m. title game, televised nationally on FSN.

The Bears (31-24, 11-15) dropped two of three at Texas Tech over the weekend, winning the Saturday game 13-3. Baylor is 6-4 in its last 10 games. The Bears posted a 7-14 record against the other seven teams in the Big 12 Championship field, including a 5-4 mark against Pool Two teams. Baylor is unranked in all four major polls.

Nebraska (39-12-1, 17-9-1) was swept at Missouri over the weekend. The Huskers are 6-4 in their last 10 games. Nebraska posted a 12-8-1 record against the other seven teams in the Big 12 Championship field, including a 6-3 mark against Pool Two teams.

Oklahoma State (40-15, 18-9) won two of three against Oklahoma over the weekend, dropping Sunday's finale 10-4. The Cowboys are 6-4 in their last 10 games. Oklahoma State was 13-8 against the other seven teams in the Big 12 Championship field, including a 4-5 ledger against Pool Two teams.

Kansas State (27-27, 11-16) swept Kansas over the weekend, its first Big 12 series sweep this season. The Wildcats are 6-4 in their last 10 games. Kansas State went 6-15 against the other seven teams in the Big 12 Championship field, including a 3-6 mark against Pool Two teams.

Baylor, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State are the only three schools to have participated in each Big 12 Conference postseason championship in the league's 12-year history.

All Baylor baseball games are broadcast live on Waco's 1660 ESPN Radio. Live streaming audio and GameTracker also are available for all Baylor baseball games online at www.BaylorBears.com, the official website of Baylor Athletics and a member of the CSTV Network. Live streaming video also is available for the Big 12 Championship at www.Big12Sports.com.

CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE

WEDNESDAY, MAY 21

Game 1: 4) Missouri vs. 5) Texas, 9 a.m.

Game 2: 1) Texas A&M vs. 8) Oklahoma, 12:30 p.m.

Game 3: 3) Nebraska vs. 6) BAYLOR, 4 p.m.

Game 4: 2) Oklahoma State vs. 7) Kansas State, 7:30 p.m.

THURSDAY, MAY 22

Game 5: Texas A&M vs. Texas, 4 p.m.

Game 6: Missouri vs. Oklahoma, 7:30 p.m.

FRIDAY, MAY 23

Game 7: Nebraska vs. Kansas State, 4 p.m.

Game 8: Oklahoma State vs. BAYLOR, 7:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, MAY 24

Game 9: Texas vs. Oklahoma, 9 a.m.

Game 10: Texas A&M vs. Missouri, 12:30 p.m.

Game 11: Oklahoma State vs. Nebraska, 4 p.m.

Game 12: BAYLOR vs. Kansas State, 7:30 p.m.

SUNDAY, MAY 25

Title Game: Pool One winner vs. Pool Two winner, 1 p.m.

THE NEBRASKA SERIES

Overall: Baylor leads 29-22-1

Waco: Baylor leads 19-6-1

Lincoln: Nebraska leads 10-7

Neutral Site: Nebraska leads 6-3

Since Start of Big 12: Baylor leads 21-18

Regular Season: Baylor leads 19-12

Postseason: Nebraska leads 6-2

Smith vs. Nebraska: 22-18

First Meeting: at Baylor 9, Nebraska 7 [4/4/1938]

Last Meeting: at Baylor 8, Nebraska 3 [4/27/2008]

THE OKLAHOMA STATE SERIES

Overall: Oklahoma State leads 33-25

Waco: Tied 12-12

Stillwater: Oklahoma State leads 14-10

Neutral Site: Oklahoma State leads 7-3

Since Start of Big 12: Oklahoma State leads 21-20

Regular Season: Tied 17-17

Postseason: Oklahoma State leads 4-3

Smith vs. OSU: 20-21

First Meeting: Oklahoma State 8, Baylor 7 [4/29/1925]

Last Meeting: at Baylor 8, Oklahoma State 5 [3/16/2008]

THE KANSAS STATE SERIES

Overall: Baylor leads 29-10

Waco: Baylor leads 19-1

Manhattan: Baylor leads 10-8

Neutral Site: Kansas State leads 1-0

Since Start of Big 12: Baylor leads 28-9

Regular Season: Baylor leads 28-8

Postseason: Kansas State leads 1-0

Smith vs. K-State: 28-9

First Meeting: at Baylor 2, Kansas State 0 [3/28/1966]

Last Meeting: Baylor 3, at Kansas State 0 [4/13/2008]

BAYLOR/ISP SPORTS NETWORK

1660 ESPN RADIO (Waco)

Tom Barfield, play-by-play

Lark Smith, color

INTERNET FEEDS

GameTracker: www.BaylorBears.com

Audio: www.BaylorBears.com

Video: www.Big12Sports.com

BIG 12 CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY

The Big 12 Championship makes its 10th appearance at Oklahoma City this season. Each of the first five Big 12 tournaments and the 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2007 events were played in Oklahoma City. The 2002 and 2004 tournaments, both at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, were the only Big 12 tournaments not played in Oklahoma City. All-Sports Stadium was the site of the first conference tournament in 1997; the next year, Bricktown Ballpark opened in OKC, and it served as the host site from 1998 to 2001.

BAYLOR BIG 12 CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP TIDBITS

• Baylor, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State are the only schools to have participated in every Big 12 postseason event.

• Baylor has made five championship title game appearances: 1999, 2000, 2003, 2005 and 2007. Only Nebraska (six) has made more title game appearances.

• This is the third time Baylor has been the sixth seed. The Bears are 5-2 as the sixth seed, holding that spot in 2004 and last year. In 2004, Baylor reached the semifinals with a 2-2 record, defeating Texas Tech (8-3) and Oklahoma (14-4) but losing twice to Missouri (12-1, 10-7). Last season, Baylor was 3-0 in pool play, defeating Oklahoma State (3-1), Missouri (10-5) and Oklahoma (7-6), before losing to Texas A&M 14-6 in the title game.

• Baylor is 32-31 all-time in conference tournaments, including a 20-18 mark in the Big 12 event.

• Baylor is 18-14 all-time in Big 12 Championship games in Oklahoma City, including an 18-12 mark at Bricktown Ballpark.

• Baylor is 4-2 in pool play at the Big 12 Championship. The Bears lost to Nebraska and Texas before defeating Texas Tech in 2006. Last season, the Bears went 3-0, defeating Oklahoma State, Missouri and Oklahoma.

• Baylor, Nebraska and Oklahoma have played the most games in Big 12 Championship history, each playing 38 games.

BAYLOR-NEBRASKA SERIES

Baylor and Nebraska meet for the 53rd time Wednesday. The Bears hold a 29-22-1 advantage in the all-time series, which dates back to a 9-7 Baylor victory April 4, 1938. The series is heavily favored to the home team; Baylor is 19-6-1 against Nebraska in Waco but 7-10 against the Huskers at Lincoln. The teams have met nine times at neutral sites, eight of which were at the Big 12 Championship; Nebraska has a 6-3 lead in neutral-site meetings and have won two consecutive such affairs.

Since the inception of the Big 12 Conference in 1997, the Bears hold a 21-18 advantage in the series. Baylor is 19-12 against the Huskers in regular-season Big 12 games; the home team has won four of five series at both locations. The 1998 series was rain-shortened to one game (a Baylor victory), while the 1999 series was completely lost to inclement weather.

Baylor swept the series in 1997, 2000, 2004 and 2006. Nebraska swept the series in 2001. The teams split the series with the home team winning two-of-three at Baylor in 2002 and at Nebraska in 2003 and 2005. Nebraska won two of three at Baylor Ballpark this season, sweeping a Saturday doubleheader before the Bears took the finale 8-3.

BAYLOR-OKLAHOMA STATE SERIES

Baylor and Oklahoma State meet for the 59th time Friday. Oklahoma State holds a 33-25 advantage in the all-time series, which dates back to an 8-7 Cowboys' victory April 29, 1925, at Stillwater. Baylor holds a 6-4 advantage in the last 10 meetings. The Bears are 16-11 against Oklahoma State since dropping the first game of the 2000 series at Baylor Ballpark.

The series is tied 12-12 in Waco; however, the Bears have won nine of the last 12 games at Baylor Ballpark after taking two of three this season. Oklahoma State is 14-10 against Baylor at Stillwater and 7-3 against the Bears in neutral-site meetings.

The Cowboys hold a 21-20 advantage in the series since the inception of the Big 12 Conference in 1997, but the series is tied 17-17 in Big 12 regular season games. The teams also have met four in the Big 12 Championship (OSU won in 1997 and 2001; Baylor won in 2005 and 2007) and three times in the 1999 NCAA Super Regional (OSU won two of three).

Baylor won the season series in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006 and this season; the 2002 and 2004 series were rain-shortened, and the teams split two games. The Bears hold a 6-4-2 Big 12 series advantage, going 3-1-2 in Waco and 3-3-0 at Stillwater. Baylor has one sweep (2006), while OSU has two (1998, 2007).

BAYLOR-KANSAS STATE SERIES

Baylor and Kansas State meet for the 40th time Saturday. Baylor holds a 29-10 advantage in the all-time series, which dates back to a 2-0 Baylor victory March 28, 1966, in Waco.

While Baylor has dominated the series in Waco (19-1 all-time after sweeping last year's series), the series has been very competitive at Manhattan; the Bears are 10-8 all-time at Kansas State, all coming since the inception of the Big 12 in 1997. Kansas State swept the 2006 series at Tointon Stadium and won five straight at home against the Bears after taking this year's series opener. However, the Bears bounced back for wins of 5-4 and 3-0 in the final two games to take the series.

Baylor is 28-8 against Kansas State in regular-season Big 12 meetings. Kansas State won the teams' lone meeting in Big 12 Championship competition, a 6-2 decision at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington in 2002. The Bears have won 11 of the 12 Big 12 series. Baylor is 6-4 against Kansas State in the teams' last 10 meetings.

TEAM NOTES

Baylor entered last year's Big 12 Championship 31-24 overall and 12-15 in Big 12 play. ... After surrendering only 23 home runs in the season's first 36 games, the Bears have allowed 30 home runs over the last 19 games. ... The Bears have hit 52 home runs, the most by a Baylor team since the 2004 squad hit 54 in 60 games. ... Either Baylor or its opponent has scored at least 10 runs in 24 of the Bears' 55 games (43.6 percent). The Bears have reached double figures 15 times, while their opponents have accomplished the feat 13 times. Baylor is 3-1 when both teams scored at least 10 runs, defeating Purdue 11-10, Mississippi State 16-11 and Texas State 25-13, and losing to Texas A&M 13-12 in 11 innings. In 2005, Baylor played 70 games and either team scored at least 10 runs only five times. ... Baylor has employed two players at first base for the majority of the season -- Dustin Dickerson and Adam Hornung. That duo has taken all but five of the team's 215 at bats by first basemen and are hitting a combined .348 (73-for-210) while at first base.

PLAYER NOTES

• Ben Booker has reached safely in 15 of the last 16 games. He is hitting .333 (21-for-63) in that time with seven multiple-hit games. ... Booker has seven home runs this season after hitting only four home runs in his first two seasons combined. ... He has posted a .220 batting average (18-for-82) in the leadoff spot; he is hitting .330 (37-for-112) elsewhere in the lineup.

• Raynor Campbell has hit safely in 13 of the last 14 games; he is hitting .375 (21-for-56) in that time with six multiple-hit games. ... Campbell also has hit safely in 23 of the last 28 games; he is hitting .378 (42-for-111) over that span and has not gone hitless in consecutive games in that time. ... Campbell started the year 0-for-15 in Big 12 play; since then, he is hitting .417 (35-for-84) in conference action. ... Currently riding a six-game hitting streak, one game shy of his season-long run. He is hitting .423 (11-for-26) over the last six games.

• Dustin Dickerson leads the team with a .363 average (33-for-91) in road games, joining Campbell (.329) as the only Baylor players hitting over .300 in such games. ... Dickerson is tied for the team lead in games with at least three hits with seven.

• Craig Fritsch has allowed four earned runs over 19.1 innings in his last four outings (1.86 ERA). In the first of those three appearances, Fritsch established a Baylor Ballpark record with 10 strikeouts in relief April 30 against Sam Houston State; it also was a career high.

• Gregg Glime has reached safely in 13 of the last 14 games. He has collected 11 hits and eight walks and has been hit four times in that span, reaching base safely in 23 of 55 plate appearances for a .418 on base percentage. Glime has scored 11 of his 22 runs on the season during the last 14 games.

• Shaver Hansen has gone hitless in consecutive games only twice this season with no three-game droughts. ... Hansen is hitting .317 (38-for-120) in the leadoff spot this season; the other six players who have hit in that position have a collective .240 average (25-for-104). ... Hansen has reached safely in 31 of the last 35 games.

• Adam Hornung has reached safely in 28 of the last 31 games and has not gone consecutive games without reaching safely this season. ... He has hit safely in the last 10 road games, going 18-for-43 (.419) in those games.

• Willie Kempf is 6-1 in 10 starts; he left with the lead in all three of his no-decisions. Baylor is 8-2 in his starts. ... However, four of his last five appearances have been in relief. Kempf has allowed fewer than four earned runs in 13 of his 14 appearances.

• Randall Linebaugh made his first start of the season last Tuesday against Texas State and allowed two runs on six hits and one walk with seven strikeouts over 6.0 innings. It was his highest strikeout total since fanning a career-high eight against Dallas Baptist in 2006. Linebaugh has tossed 3.0-plus innings in relief six times this season.

• Tim Matthews has posted a 2.57 ERA in 17.1 innings over 10 relief appearances. He has 13 strikeouts against one walk in those relief outings. ... Matthews recorded the first complete game and the first shutout of his career last Wednesday in the Bears' 11-0, seven-inning victory over Stephen F. Austin. Matthews allowed three hits and one walk with six strikeouts. He retired 14 consecutive batters between a leadoff single in the third and a two-out walk in the seventh. ... Matthews has allowed fewer than three earned runs in 14 of 17 appearances. ... His 4.88 strikeout-to-walk ratio (39-8) would rank second in Baylor history.

• Baylor is 18-6 in the 24 games in which Paul Miles has started in center field. He was 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI in last Wednesday's game against Stephen F. Austin, producing his first multiple-hit game since the Bears' second game of the year.

• Aaron Miller is the first Baylor player with at least 10 home runs since 2004 when Josh Ford had 14 and Michael Griffin had 10. Miller would be the first underclassman to lead Baylor in home runs since Chris Durbin did so with 14 in 2001. ... Miller has reached safely in 20 of the last 21 games, producing a .464 on base percentage (45-for-97) in that time. ... After suffering 14 multiple-strikeout outings in the season's first 39 games, Miller has not struck out more than once in any of the last 16 games. He averaged 1.23 strikeouts per game in the first 39 contests but has trimmed that to 0.50 per game over the last 16 contests, striking out only eight times in that span.

• Jon Ringenberg leads the team with five pinch hits this season, the most by a Baylor player since 2003 when Zach Dillon had seven and Reid Brees had five.

• Mace Thurman has allowed a staff-low 1.59 extra-base hits per 9.0 innings this season, surrendering six doubles and one home run in 39.2 innings. ... He has tallied 17 strikeouts in 12.1 innings over his last four appearances.

• Shawn Tolleson's first-inning ERA is 12.08 (17 earned runs in 12.2 innings) with an opponents' batting average of .385 (20-for-52); his ERA is 3.49 after the first inning with a .233 opponents' batting average. ... Tolleson is the only Baylor starter to pitch into the ninth inning this season; he has done so three times with two complete games.

• Kendal Volz has posted a 2.37 ERA (eight earned runs in 30.1 innings) over his last five starts, but he is 0-3 and Baylor is 1-4 in those games. He has been given 11 total runs of support in those games, including one run three times. Volz has 41 strikeouts against 12 walks in his last five starts.

• Beamer Weems hit .172 (11-for-64) with three extra-base hits, eight RBI and five errors in the season's first 19 games. Since then, he is hitting .318 (42-for-132) with 16 extra-base hits and 22 RBI in 35 games. ... Weems is hitting .361 (13-for-36) in the last 10 games and .342 (26-for-76) in the last 20 games.

EIGHT BEARS EARN ACADEMIC ALL-BIG 12 HONORS

Eight Baylor baseball student-athletes were named 2008 Academic All-Big 12 Conference, the league office announced Thursday. All eight earned first-team status. Baylor, which led all schools in first-team honorees, tied Texas and Texas A&M for the second most total Academic All-Big 12 honorees with eight, one less than Nebraska, which had seven first-team honorees and two second-team selections.

The eight Baylor student-athletes honored were senior pitcher Erik Forestiere (political science), 3B Shaver Hansen (business), RHP Willie Kempf (business), RHP Wade Mackey (speech communication), RHP Tim Matthews (political science), RF Aaron Miller (business), RHP Shawn Tolleson (health science studies) and RHP Kendal Volz (business).

Baylor baseball student-athletes have earned first-team Academic All-Big 12 honors 64 times in the league's 12-year history, 14 more than any other school in the conference. Nebraska (50) ranks second, followed by Oklahoma State (47), Kansas (40), Oklahoma (37), Missouri (34), Kansas State (31), Texas (29), Texas Tech (26) and Texas A&M (24).

Mackey and Matthews were first-team honorees for the second consecutive season; the other six were all first-time selections in their first year of eligibility.

MILLER, HANSEN NAMED ESPN THE MAGAZINE ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT VI

Two Baylor baseball student-athletes earned ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VI honors, the College Sports Information Directors of America announced Thursday. RF Aaron Miller was a first-team selection, while 3B Shaver Hansen earned second-team honors. Both were first-time honorees, and both are business majors.

At least one Baylor baseball student-athlete has earned academic all-district honors every year since 1998. In that time, 17 Bears have been so honored 24 times. Jason Jennings (1998, 1999), Jon Topolski (1998, 1999), Ross Bennett (2002, 2003), Michael Griffin (2004, 2005, 2006), Zach Dillon (2005, 2006) and Jeff Mandel (2006, 2007) all earned academic all-district honors multiple times.

In order to be eligible for academic all-district honors, a student-athlete must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.20 on a 4.00 scale and participate in at least 50 percent of his team's games. Freshmen and first-year transfers are not eligible. By virtue of earning first-team honors, Miller is eligible for Academic All-America honors; that team will be announced May 27.

BAYLOR IN BIG 12 CONFERENCE STATISTICAL RANKINGS

Baylor ranks eighth in batting average (.286), eighth in ERA (5.11) and fifth in fielding percentage (.971) through games of May 18. In league games, the Bears rank 10th in batting average (.258), sixth in ERA (5.51) and sixth in fielding percentage (.971).

Individually in all games: RF Aaron Miller is seventh in home runs (12) and tied for fifth in doubles (18). 3B Shaver Hansen is tied for third in triples (5), while LF Ben Booker is tied for ninth (3). RHP Willie Kempf is 15th in ERA (4.00), while RHP Kendal Volz is 16th (4.13). Kempf also is tied for ninth in victories (6). Volz is sixth in strikeouts (79) and second in strikeouts per 9.0 innings (10.88). RHP Nick Cassavechia is tied for ninth in saves (5). RHP Shawn Tolleson is second in shutuouts (2) and tied for third in complete games (2). RHP Tim Matthews is tied for third in shutouts (1) and tied for eighth in complete games (1).

Individually in league games: 2B Raynor Campbell is 11th in batting average (.354) and 11th in hits (35). 1B Adam Hornung is tied for seventh in home runs (6). SS Beamer Weems is tied for fifth in triples (2). Kempf is 14th in ERA (4.53), while Tolleson is 17th (4.61). Kempf and Tolleson are tied for sixth in victories (4). Tolleson ranks ninth in strikeouts (48); he is tied for first in shutouts (2), tied for second in complete games (2) and sixth in innings (56.2). Volz is fourth in strikeouts (58) and first in strikeouts per 9.0 innings (11.77). Matthews is tied for eighth in saves (2).

NATIONAL STATISTICAL RANKINGS

Through games of May 11, Baylor ranked 22nd in double plays turned (22), 24th in double plays turned per game (1.02), 37th in fielding percentage (.970), 41st in strikeouts per 9.0 innings pitched (8.0), 41st in walks (233) and 53rd in triples (16).

Individually, 3B Shaver Hansen was 69th in triples (5) and 60th in triples per game (0.10), while RHP Kendal Volz was 51st in strikeouts (79) and 18th in strikeouts per 9.0 innings (10.89).

CARDIAC KIDS

After going 4-5 in one-run games last season, Baylor is 10-7 in such games this season. However, the Bears are 3-7 in one-run games after winning their first seven. The 10 one-run wins and the 17 one-run games are the most by a Baylor team since the 2005 squad was 15-8, establishing a school record for one-run wins. In 2004, Baylor established a school record for one-run losses with a 7-16 mark.

Baylor has won two games in its final at bat -- the season-opener against Purdue and the series opener against Kansas. However, the Bears have lost eight games in their opponents' final at bat, including five in Big 12 play.

EXTRA-INNING SUCCESS HAS TURNED IN 2008

Baylor is 15-7 in extra-inning games since the start of the 2003 season but 1-3 in such games this season. The Bears were 2-1 in extra-inning games last season, 0-1 in 2006, 6-1 in 2005, 1-0 in 2004 and 5-1 in 2003. Baylor's luck was not as good in 2002 when the Bears were 1-5 in extra-inning games, including a span of three consecutive games lost in extra innings during mid-May.

Five of the 15 wins over the past six seasons have come on an opponent's home field (Arizona twice, Arizona State, Texas and Vanderbilt). Three of the 15 wins were either neutral-site games or games at Baylor Ballpark in which the Bears were the visitor. Four of the 15 wins have come in postseason play (two at the Big 12 Tournament, one in the NCAA Regional round and one at the College World Series).

NEXT UP ...

Baylor awaits word from the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee. Pairings for the 2008 tournament will be announced Monday, May 26, at 11:30 a.m. CDT on ESPN.