Baseball Loses 8-2 to California at Frisco Classic

Friday, March 2

Frisco, Texas

3:00 PM

Baylor

3-4

California

6-2

California

Baylor

Baseball Loses 8-2 to California at Frisco Classic

3/2/2018 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

March 2, 2018

Final Stats

By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Foundation

FRISCO, Texas - Sophomore lefty Cody Bradford, so dominant in his first two outings this season, nearly didn't make it out of the second inning of Friday's opening game at the Frisco College Baseball Classic.

The California Golden Bears (6-2) exploded for five runs on four hits, two walks and a hit batter in the second inning and cruised to an 8-2 win over Baylor (3-4) at Dr. Pepper Ballpark.

"I attribute that to him being a sophomore and the Cal hitters being pretty good," Baylor coach Steve Rodriguez said. "They just did a good job of hitting mistakes. He got behind hitters, and they did a good job of doing what they're supposed to do with offensive-count pitches."

Bradford (1-1) came in with a 0.00 ERA and had given up just five hits with 15 strikeouts in 13 innings. The defense helped him get out of the first inning unscathed by turning a double play after a one-out single and walk, but Cal batted around in the second.

Max Flower was thrown out by second baseman Josh Bissonette on a hard shot up the middle that deflected off Bradford. But then, Jonah Davis walked and scored on Korey Lee's double to the gap in left-center field.

Centerfielder Cole Haring made a great diving catch on a sinking liner by Ripken Reyes for the second out, but then the next five batters reached base as the Golden Bears tacked on four more runs.

Singles by Cameron Eden and Darren Baker scored the next two runs, then Tanner Dodson broke it open with a two-run single to left-center field to make it 5-0.

"We did not play great baseball today," Rodriguez said. "From the mound to offense, I don't think we were at our best. And we need to get better for the weekend, that's for sure."

With the defense turning two more double plays, Bradford was able to work into the fifth inning and gave up just one more run. His final line was six runs on eight hits and four walks with no strikeouts in 4.2 innings.

Cal starter Jared Horn (3-0) retired the first eight batters and kept the shutout intact through the first three frames.

Shea Langeliers led off the fourth with an opposite-field single to right, leading to the Bears' first run of the game. Davis Wendzel reached on a fielder's choice grounder, stole second and scored on Andy Thomas' single up the middle. Cal answered it with a run in the top of the fifth off Bradford, but Baylor came right back with a run in the bottom of the inning on back-to-back walks by Tucker Cascadden and Davion Downey and Langeliers' two-out RBI single to left-center.

Reliever Aaron Shortridge completely shut it down over the last four innings, striking out six while allowing just two hits to pick up his second save of the year.

"Their bullpen guy came in and did exactly what he's supposed to do," Rodriguez said. "He came in, threw strikes, kept our hitters off-balance, and the defense made some really good plays. We were scrambling, just trying to get baserunners. We just didn't really take advantage of the opportunities when we had them."

Baylor relievers Collin Garrett and Luke Boyd gave up single runs in the sixth and seventh before Ryan Leckich struck out four of the seven batters he faced in two shutout innings.

"I don't want to take anything away from Ryan coming out and doing what he did. I need him to do that when it's 2-0, 2-1, 0-0," Rodriguez said. "Ryan has been great for us. I'm not taking anything away from his effort . . . it was great to see. He needs to maintain that consistency on the mound for us. But, we need that kind of approach from some other guys earlier on in the game."

The Bears will try to bounce back with a matchup at 6 p.m. Saturday against ninth-ranked Texas A&M (8-1), which suffered its first loss of the year, falling to Louisiana Tech, 4-2, in the nightcap. Sophomore Hayden Kettler (1-1, 0.75 ERA) is Baylor's scheduled starter after taking a no-hitter into the sixth inning of last Sunday's 3-0 loss at No. 11 UCLA.

THE RUNDOWN
FRISCO, Texas - Baylor baseball lost an 8-2 game to California on Friday afternoon to begin the 2018 Frisco College Baseball Classic at Dr. Pepper Ballpark. The Bears (3-4) were doomed by the Golden Bears (6-2) big second inning and were unable to answer in a big enough way.

BU starter Cody Bradford ran into the first trouble of his season in the second inning as California rallied for five runs on four hits, two walks and a hit batter.

The Bears answered with a run in the fourth on a Shea Langeliers single, Andy Thomas HBP and Cole Haring RBI single, but left runners on second and third.

California countered with a run on two singles, a walk and double play in the fifth. Once again, Baylor bounced back with a run on walks by Tucker Cascadden and Davion Downey and a two-out RBI single from Langeliers.

However, California thwarted any hope of a comeback with a run apiece in the sixth and seventh innings.

California starter Jared Horn (3-0) earned the win, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks with two strikeouts in five innings. Aaron Shortridge picked up the save with four shutout relief innings. Bradford (1-1) took the loss, giving up six runs on eight hits and four walks with no strikeouts in 4.2 innings.

NOTES
*Baylor is 2-2 in regular season tournament play under third-year head coach Steve Rodriguez. BU went 2-1 at the 2017 Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic at Minute Maid Park in Houston with wins over No. 9 Ole Miss and No. 11 Texas A&M and a loss to No. 3 LSU.

*Andy Thomas has a career-high seven-game hitting streak to begin the season.

*Shea Langeliers posted his team-high-tying third multi-hit game (2).

*Cole Haring registered his second multi-hit game (2).

*Nick Loftin made his first career start, playing in left field.

*Ryan Leckich tied a career-high with two innings pitched while posting a career-high four strikeouts.

*Collin Garrett first time pitching since March 8, 2016 vs. Texas State.

STAT OF THE GAME
14.1 - The amount scoreless innings posted by Cody Bradford to begin the season before the streak ended in the second inning.

QUOTE OF THE GAME
"We did not play great baseball today and it needs to get better for the rest of the weekend. The California hitters did a good job of making [Cody Bradford] work, capitalizing on mistakes and doing what they're supposed to do in offensive counts. We didn't take advantage of our opportunities." Baylor Head Coach Steve Rodriguez

WHAT'S NEXT
The Bears continue the 2018 Frisco College Baseball Classic as they face No. 9 Texas A&M Saturday at 6 p.m. CT and Louisiana Tech Sunday at 3 p.m. at Dr. Pepper Ballpark. For tickets to home games, visit: http://www.baylorbears.com/tickets/. For updates on the program follow @baylorbaseball on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat.

-BU-