Baylor
Louisiana-Monroe
15 Straight: Baseball Beats ULM 7-5
4/10/2012 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
 5ULM (16-16) Rank: NR |
Box Score | Highlights |  7BAYLOR (26-7) Rank: #8 |
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April 10, 2012
WACO, Texas - Max Muncy's two-run single in the sixth erased a 5-4 deficit, and Baylor got solid relief work from four pitchers to extend its winning streak to 15 games with a 7-5 win over Louisiana-Monroe on Tuesday night at Baylor Ballpark.
Baylor (26-7) freshman Ryan Smith (1-0) needed only 48 pitches to work a career-long 4.1 innings in relief, and he allowed one earned run with no walks and three strikeouts to pick up his first collegiate win. Crayton Bare, Joe Kirkland and Brad Kuntz held Louisiana-Monroe (16-16) scoreless over the final 2.2 innings, and Kuntz picked up his first save of the season.
"(Smith) was just very efficient," head coach Steve Smith said. "I didn't go into this game thinking anybody was going to throw four-plus innings, but Tyler (Bremer) had almost a 50-pitch inning in the second inning, so we chose not to run him back out there. At that point somebody has got to step up and give us a chance to get back in the game, and Ryan did that."
Muncy drove in three runs in a 2-for-4 effort. He was one of five Bears to record two hits in the game, and freshman Adam Toth singled, walked, stole two bases and scored a pair of runs.
The Bears had to fight back from an early 3-0 deficit after ULM got to starting pitcher Tyler Bremer for three runs on three hits in 2.0 innings. Smith shut the Warhawks' bats down in the third, fourth and fifth, and Baylor got one run in the second, two in the third and one in the fourth to take its first lead of the game.
ULM took advantage of an error to score two runs in the sixth to move back in front at 5-4, but the Bears answered with three runs in the bottom half of the inning to cap the scoring.
Baylor strung together three singles leading off the second, but ULM starter Alex Hermeling was able to limit the damage to only a sacrifice fly from Toth. The Bears scored a run on a balk in the third, and Cal Towey followed with a RBI single to even the score at 3-3. Toth led off the fourth with a walk, stole second base and eventually scored on Muncy's fielder's choice grounder.
The Bears' sixth-inning rally started when Jake Miller led off with a double down the left-field line. Toth followed with a bunt single, and one out later Lawton Langford drew a walk to load the bases. Muncy then grounded a ball through the middle for a two-run single, and Josh Ludy added an insurance run with a sacrifice fly.
Bare struck out the only two batters he faced to strand a runner on second base in the seventh inning, and Kirkland and Kuntz retired the side in order in the eighth and ninth innings, respectively.
Smith is the 10th different Baylor pitcher to earn a win in the Bears' 15-game winning streak, and Kuntz is one of five to record a save during the streak.
ULM reliever Shelby Aulds (2-1) took the loss after allowing three runs on four hits in 4.1 innings. Corben Green went 2-for-4 with one run and one RBI to lead the Warhawks at the plate.
Baylor and ULM meet again at 4:05 p.m. Wednesday at Baylor Ballpark. Wednesday's game is $1 hot dog night and Dogtopia Bark in the Park. For more information, visit www.baylorbears.com/barkinthepark.
