March 21, 2011

vs.

No. 21 Baylor (13-7) vs. UT Arlington (12-8) March 22, 2011 | 4 p.m. CST Waco, Texas | Baylor Ballpark (5,000) PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS (2011 STATISTICS) Baylor: RHP Jon Ringenberg, Sr. (1-0, 2.25 ERA, 8.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K) UTA: LHP Calan Pritchard, Jr. (1-0, 3.60 ERA, 15.0 IP, 16 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 10 BB, 13 K)

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Complete Game Notes in PDF Format

Baylor's 21st-ranked baseball looks to avoid losing consecutive games for the first time this season when the Bears host UT Arlington at 4 p.m. Tuesday night at Baylor Ballpark.

Senior right-hander Jon Ringenberg is scheduled to take the ball for the Bears. Ringenberg has pitched just once this month, tossing 3.0 perfect innings to earn the win in a predetermined short start at Texas State on March 8.

The Bears fell seven spots to No. 21 in Baseball America's latest Top 25 poll. Baylor went 2-2 last week, rallying from five runs down to beat Florida International, 7-6 in 11 innings on Tuesday, and taking one of three in a series against Texas Tech over the weekend.

All Baylor baseball games are broadcast live on Waco's 1660 ESPN Radio. Live streaming audio and GameTracker are available for all Baylor baseball games online at www.BaylorBears.com, the official website of Baylor Athletics and a member of the CBS College Sports Network.

Live streaming video is available for most weekend games at Baylor Ballpark. The game against UT Arlington will not be streamed, but all three games of this weekend's Big 12 Conference series against Kansas State will be streamed live.

SERIES INFORMATION

UT ARLINGTON
Overall: Baylor leads 76-29
Waco: Baylor leads 46-12
Arlington: Baylor leads 30-17
Neutral Site: Never Met

Steve Smith vs. UTA: 30-9

COACHES

BAYLOR: Steve Smith

Alma Mater: Baylor, 1986

Career Record: 601-394-1 (17th season)

Record at Baylor: 601-394-1 (17th season)

UT ARLINGTON: Darin Thomas

Career Record: 97-96 (4th season)

Record at UTA: 97-96 (4th season)

BAYLOR-IMG COLLEGE SPORTS NETWORK

Online at www.BaylorBears.com

Tom Barfield (pxp) and Lark Smith (color)

BAYLOR VS. SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE
Baylor is 304-132-1 all-time against teams currently playing as members of the Southland Conference. The Bears are 1-1 this season, splitting a pair of games with Texas State. Baylor has nine games scheduled against teams from the Southland in 2011. The Bears have played Lamar (41-28-1), McNeese State (8-7), Nicholls State (7-2), Northwestern State (11-7), Sam €ˆHouston State (57-38), Stephen F. Austin (27-0), Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (5-0), Texas State (45-18), UT Arlington (76-29) and UTSA (27-3).

BEARS TOUGH TO BEAT IN WACO
Baylor is 30-9 in its last 39 games at Baylor Ballpark, including 17-3 in non-conference games.

The Bears had a 10-game winning streak in non-conference home games snapped when they lost the season opener to Oral €ˆRoberts. Before the streak was snapped, ORU was the last non-Big 12 team to beat the Bears in Waco when it took the opener of a four-game set on March 5, 2010. Baylor came back to win the remaining games in the series both times.

Five of Baylor's nine losses in Waco since dropping the series opener to ORU in 2010 came in extra innings and/or were one-run defeats (vs. Kansas, 12-6 in 14 innings on 3/28/10, vs. No. 2 Texas, 4-2 in 10 innings on 4/30/10, vs. Kansas, 9-8 on 3/26/10, vs. Texas Tech, 6-5 on 3/18/11 and vs. Texas €ˆTech, 10-6 in 10 innings on 3/20/11). The Bears' other losses were to Nebraska (6-2 on 4/24/10), Oral €ˆRoberts (2/18/11), No. 4 TCU (2/22/11) and Texas State (3/1/11).

EXTRA SPECIAL
Despite going 1-5 in extra-inning games in 2010, Baylor is 23-14 in such games since the start of the 2003 season. Baylor was 4-1 in extra-inning games in 2009, 1-3 in 2008, 2-1 in 2007, 0-1 in 2006, 6-1 in 2005, 1-0 in 2004 and 5-1 in 2003. Baylor is 3-1 in extras so far in 2011.

The Bears won all four regular season games that went to extra innings in 2009, but fell to No. 2 national seed LSU 3-2 in 10 innings in the second game of the NCAA €ˆBaton €ˆRouge Regional.

Six of the 23 wins over the past eight seasons have come on an opponent's home field (Arizona twice, Arizona State, Texas, Vanderbilt and UT €ˆArlington). Four of the 23 wins were either neutral-site games or games at Baylor Ballpark in which the Bears were the visitor. Four of the 22 wins have come in postseason play, including two at the Big 12 Tournament and one at the College World Series.

QUICK HITS
• SERIES: Baylor and UT €ˆArlington have met 105 times and the Bears hold a 76-29 advantage all-time vs. UTA.
• Baylor is 46-12 against the Mavericks in games played in Waco, and the Bears have won 30 of 39 meetings against UT Arlington during the Steve Smith era.
• Baylor fell seven spots to No. 21 in the latest Baseball America Top 25. The Bears were jumped by No. 8 Texas A&M, No. 10 Fresno State, No. 16 California, No. 17 Georgia Tech, No. 18 North Carolina, No. 19 Clemson and No. 20 Tulane. Baylor has been ranked in all six Baseball America polls this season.
• Baylor has not lost consecutive games this season; the Bears are 6-0 following a loss.
• Baylor is 30-9 in its last 39 games at Baylor Ballpark, including a 17-3 mark in non-conference games.
• Baylor is 187-110 (.630) in the month of March during the Smith era. The Bears have had a losing record in the month of March only twice in Smith's 16 seasons (2004 & 2007).
• Baylor has four walk-off wins this year after recording only one walk-off win during the 2010 season.
• Baylor is 3-1 in extra-inning games this season. The Bears got a walk-off double from €ˆJake Miller in the 10th inning vs. Oral Roberts (2/20), a walk-off grand slam from Max Muncy in the 10th vs. Rice (3/6) and a walk-off single from Chris Slater in the 11th inning vs. Florida International (3/15).
• Baylor had won six straight regular season weekend sets before dropping the series finale against Texas Tech in 10 innings on Sunday. Baylor has had a winning record in four of five weekends this season.
• Since the start of the 2003 season, Baylor is 23-14 in extra-inning games, including 3-1 this season.
• Baylor head coach Steve Smith recorded his 600th career victory in last Tuesday's win vs. FIU.
• Baylor has ranked in the nation's top 25 in attendance in all 12 years since Baylor Ballpark opened in 1999.
• Slater hit an inside-the-park home run in Saturday's game, the first by a Baylor player since April 9, 2006.
• For the second time in program history, Baylor players won both Big 12 Conference Player and Pitcher of the Week. Logan €ˆVerrett (Pitcher) & Chris Slater (Player) took the honors on March 14.
• Verrett was named Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week (3/14) by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.
• The Bears were picked fourth in the Big 12 preseason coaches' poll, behind Oklahoma, Texas and Texas A&M.
• Baseball €ˆAmerica projected Baylor to finish third in the Big 12 and ranked BU No. 16 nationally in the preseason.
• Baylor's nine-run third inning in the series finale at Georgia was the most the Bears have scored in an inning since scoring 10 in the third against Northwestern €ˆState on April 7, 2009.
• The Bears went 7-for-7 stealing bases in the series opener at Georgia, the first time Baylor stole seven or more bases in a game since stealing eight against Dallas Baptist on May 16, 2006.
• Eight players on Baylor's roster have been selected in previous MLB €ˆDrafts, tied for third-most in the Big 12.

INDIVIDUAL QUICK HITS
• LHP Crayton Bare has pitched in nine games out of the bullpen in 2011 after pitching in just four games in 2010.

• RHP Kolt Browder has allowed five hits in 8.1 innings over eight appearances (.179 opponents' batting average).

• 2B Steve DalPorto has started 17 of Baylor's 20 games at second base and once at shortstop in 2011.
• DalPorto had his career-long hitting streak snapped at eight games in the middle game of the Texas Tech series (3/19).

• Freshman RHP Trae Davis picked up a pair of wins pitching out of the bullpen in the season's opening weekend.
• Davis is tied for fifth in the Big 12 Conference with three wins. All three of his wins have come in relief.

• C Joey Hainsfurther moved from third base to catcher for the 2011 season. He had never caught a collegiate game before, but has started behind the plate in 12 of Baylor's first 20 games this season. The Bears are 9-3 when he starts behind the plate.
• Hainsfurther tied the Bears' game vs. Rice (3/6) in the Houston College Classic with a two-run triple in the 7th.

• C Josh Ludy is the only Baylor player with multiple home runs this season.
• Ludy has started behind the plate eight times and as DH in eight games.

• OF Wes Mercurio hit the first pitch he saw in 2011 for a three-run pinch hit homer in the series finale at Georgia.

• 3B Jake Miller's 10th-inning walk-off double in the series finale vs. Oral €ˆRoberts was the first extra-inning, walk-off hit by a Baylor player since Dustin Dickerson's 11th-inning walk-off single vs. Missouri on April 11, 2009.
• Miller had the first three-hit game of his career in a 3-for-4 effort vs. Houston (3/4).
• Miller has started 19 of Baylor's 20 games at third base this season.
• Miller had his career-long hitting streak snapped at seven games in the series opener vs. Texas Tech (3/18).

• 1B Max Muncy has started all 20 games at first base and hit either third or cleanup in every game.
• Muncy is tied for fourth in the Big 12 Conference with 19 RBI.
• Muncy had multi-hit games and had at least one RBI in all three games of the series at Georgia.
• Muncy hit a walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning to beat Rice.
• Muncy's walk-off grand slam was BU's first walk-off HR since Raynor Campbell hit one on Feb. 27, 2007.
• Muncy's six RBI vs. Rice were the most by a BU player since Aaron Miller had six vs. Illinois (Feb. 29, 2008).

• CF/RHP Brooks Pinckard has been named to the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award preseason watch list.
• Pinckard is tied with SFA's Bryson Miles for the national lead in stolen bases (20).
• Pinckard ranks fifth on Baylor's all-time saves list with 16 career saves.
• Pinckard hit a game-winning homer in €ˆthe seventh inning of the second game vs. Oral Roberts (2/19).
• Pinckard leads the team and is tied for second in the Big 12 with 32 hits.
• Pinckard has never grounded into a double play in 375 career at-bats.
• Pinckard has attempted more steals (22) than Baylor's opponents combined (21).
• Pinckard is 49-for-55 stealing bases in his career and his 49 steals are tied for 10th most in program history.
• Pinckard has started all 20 games in center field and hit leadoff (18 games) or second in the order (twice).

• RHP Jon €ˆRingenberg (8-0 career record) has never taken a loss in 26 career appearances, including 14 starts.

• OF Chris Slater is one of 30 semifinalists for the Lowe's Senior CLASS €ˆAward (one of three from Big 12).
• Slater was named Big 12 Player of the Week (3/14) after having four consecutive three-hit games.
• Slater hit a walk-off single to beat Florida International in 11 innings on March 15.
• Slater hit an inside-the-park home run in the middle game against Texas Tech (3/19), the first by a Baylor player since Seth Fortenberry on April 9, 2006.

• RF Cal €ˆTowey drew a total seven walks in a three-game span (3/1-3/5).
• Towey leads the team in walks (12) despite having only 39 plate appearances on the season.

• LHP/DH Josh €ˆTurley has taken only one loss in 32 career appearances.
• Turley hit a pinch-hit double in his first plate appearance of the season in the series opener at Georgia.

• RHP Logan Verrett was named to the Golden €ˆSpikes Award preseason watch list, one of six Big 12 players on the list.
• Verrett tied a Baylor Ballpark record by striking out 14 in a complete-game one-hitter vs. Louisiana Tech (3/11).
• Verrett was named Big 12 Conference Pitcher of the Week and National Player of the Week (3/14).
• Verrett earned Houston College Classic All-Tournament honors after his win vs. Houston; 6.2 IP, 1 ER, 7 K.
• Verrett has 197 career strikeouts and needs 31 to crack the top 10 in program history.
• Verrett currently holds the Baylor record for strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.93).
• Verrett is third on Baylor's career strikeouts per nine innings list (10.15).
• Verrett ranks seventh in program history for fewest walks allowed per nine innings (2.58).
• Verrett ranks fourth in the Big 12 with 36 strikeouts. He trails John Stilson (39), Michael Wacha (37) & Michael Rocha (37).

• LF Logan €ˆVick has started all 80 games in left field since the start of the 2010 season.
• Vick reached base safely in all 40 career games at Baylor Ballpark before going 0-for-3 vs. Texas State (3/1).
• Vick went 3-for-4 and drove in runs in all three plate appearances in which he made an out in the series finale at Georgia (2/27).
• Vick has drawn 70 walks in 80 career games; he's taken multiple walks in a game in 21 contests.
• When leading off an inning, Vick has a .485 on-base percentage for his career (64-for-132).

• SS Landis Ware is Baylor's most experienced player with 151 games played and 133 career starts.
• Ware has started at shortstop in 19 of Baylor's 20 games in 2011.
• Ware earned Big 12 Conference Player of the Week honors after going 7-for-10 in the Houston College Classic.
• Ware was named to the 2011 Houston €ˆCollege Classic All-Tournament Team.
• Ware led off the bottom of the 10th with a double and scored the winning run vs. Rice (3/6).
• Ware was named Big 12 Player of the Week after going 7-for-10 in the Houston €ˆCollege Classic.
• Ware was selected to the Houston College Classic All-Tournament Team.

UP NEXT
Baylor continues its 14-game homestand with its second Big 12 Conference series of the season when the Bears host Kansas State for a three-game set at Baylor Ballpark during Military Appreciation Weekend. First pitch in Friday's series opener is at 6:30 p.m., with Saturday's game at 3 p.m. and Sunday's finale at 1 p.m. All current and retired members of the military can receive $3 tickets to each of the three games. Baylor looks to avenge last year's series in Manhattan, Kan., where the Wildcats took all three games and held the Bears to 13 hits in the series.