March 12, 2016 Final Stats
THE RUNDOWN
WACO, Texas -- Baylor baseball fell 9-5 to New Mexico State on Friday evening at Baylor Ballpark in the opening day of the Baylor Baseball Battle. The Bears (6-7) rallied to tie the game in the seventh only to watch the Aggies (9-7) reclaim the lead and hold on for the victory.
BU jumped out to a 2-0 lead on a two-out, two-run single in the second inning by Justin Arrington. The hit scored Aaron Dodson after a walk and Steven McLean after a single.
Following an easy third inning for BU starter Daniel Castano, who had already racked up six strikeouts, the game went into a rain delay of 1:42. The Bears were retired in order in the bottom of the third when play resumed, but NMSU found new life against Castano in the fourth.
A two-out, two-run double by Joseph Koerper knotted the game. In the fifth, an HBP and three straight hits gave the Aggies a 5-2 lead that stood until the seventh.
In Baylor's half of the seventh, Levi Gilcrease led off with a single and was followed by a single from Richard Cunningham. After a productive out by Darryn Sheppard to move both runners into scoring position, Kameron Esthay delivered an RBI single. An Aaron Dodson HBP to load the bases, pitching change and wild pitch later, Cameron Miller tied the game on a single to left. However, BU left the bases loaded in the inning.
NMSU immediately responded with two runs on a walk and two singles in the eighth and two runs on two walks and a double in the ninth to put the game out of reach.
NMSU reliever Tyler Erwin (2-0) earned the win, throwing 2.2 scoreless frames while allowing a walk and hit with five strikeouts. BU reliever Joe Heineman (1-1) was tagged with the loss, giving up two runs on three hits and one walk with three strikeouts in three innings.
NOTES
*Baylor is 389-171 all-time at Baylor Ballpark and 4-5 under Steve Rodriguez.
*Baylor is 0-2 on its current and season-long eight-game home stand.
*Baylor leads the all-time series against New Mexico State 2-1 and 2-1 in Waco as the teams last met in 2012.
*Steven McLean has a career-high-tying six-game on-base streak and career-high four-game hitting streak.
*Justin Arrington has a career-high-tying five-game hitting streak as he posted his second multi-hit game of the season -- his two RBI tied a career high and marked his first multi-RBI game of the season.
*Darryn Sheppard has a three-game on-base streak.
*Aaron Dodson has a three-game hitting streak.
*Daniel Castano had a career-high eight strikeouts after tying a career high of six in his last outing -- he now has 19 strikeouts over 18 innings in his last three starts.
*Richard Cunningham posted his team-high fourth multi-hit game.
*Cameron Miller had his first multi-hit game of the season.
*Joe Heineman tied career highs with three innings pitched and three strikeouts.
STAT OF THE GAME
11 -- The amount of runners Baylor left on base and the amount of hits BU tallied in the game.
WHAT'S NEXT
Baylor continues its season-long eight-game home stand and Baylor Baseball Battle with a 5:35 p.m. CT tilt vs. San Diego on Saturday before playing Sunday vs. USD at 12:05 p.m. and NMSU at 4:05 p.m. on FOX Sports Southwest. Saturday's pitching matchup features BU RHP Drew Tolson (1-1, 5.29 ERA) vs. USD RHP Gary Cornish (1-0, 5.06 ERA) while Sunday's pitchers have yet to be announced.
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