Saturday, February 27
Round Rock, Texas
12 p.m.
Baylor
2-3
12
vs
6
Auburn
5-2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Baylor
1
0
2
2
4
3
0
0
0
12
15
1
Auburn
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
1
3
6
9
1
Offense Explodes as BSB Upsets No. 17 Auburn, 12-6
2/27/2021 5:40:00âŊPM | Baseball
ROUND ROCK, Texas â Second-year freshman Jared McKenzie put on a show as Baylor upset No. 17 Auburn, 12-6, at the Round Rock Classic at Dell Diamond in Round Rock, Texas on Saturday. McKenzie finished with his second multi-home run game of the season and finished 3-for-5 with three RBI to help the Bears (2-3) down the Tigers (5-2).
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In front of his hometown crowd, McKenzie got back on track with a solo homer on the second pitch of the game to put Baylor up 1-0. In his next at-bat, he once again went yard with a two-run opposite field shot to extend the Bears lead to 3-0.
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The Bears kept the runs coming in the fourth after scoring on a double play and an Antonio Valdez single to left field, making it 5-0 in favor of BU.
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Auburn got on the board with a run in the home-half of the frame, however, Baylor responded in the top of the fifth with four runs. McKenzie scored on a dropped third strike with the bases loaded, followed by outfielder Davion Downey's two-RBI single furthering the lead to 8-1. Valdez came up with his second RBI-single of the day to push the advantage to 9-1.
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After the Tigers made it 9-2, the Bears added three more runs in the sixth when third baseman Esteban Cardoza-Oquendo roped a two-RBI single into left field. Second-year freshman Kyle Nevin followed up with another RBI-single to left to give BU the double-digit lead, 12-2.
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Later in the eighth, Auburn homered to make the score 12-3 and in the ninth scored three more runs to cut the deficit to 12-6. With the bases loaded and two outs, fifth-year senior Logan Freeman shut the door with a strikeout to end the game.
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Fourth-year junior Tyler Thomas (1-0) impressed in his second start of the season, throwing five innings of work while one giving up one earned run and striking out three. Auburn's starting pitcher Richard Fitts (0-1) came up with the loss.
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NOTES
âĒ McKenzie's leadoff home run was the first for a BU player since Richard Cunningham on March 3, 2019 against Texas State.
âĒ McKenzie has totaled four home runs to lead the team this season after hitting none in 2020.
âĒ Nevin tied his career high by finishing 3-for-5 at the plate.
âĒ Pineda, fifth-year senior Andy Thomas, Valdez and third-year sophomore Chase Wehsener each have hits in every game this season.
âĒ T. Thomas picked up his first win on the mound since May 14, 2019 against UT Arlington.
âĒ The Bears have had double-digit hits in each of the games in 2021.
âĒ BU takes the 1-0 all-time series lead after the first meeting the two programs.
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QUOTE FROM COACH ROD
"Overall I thought our offense did a good job yesterday and then today we continued to do that. Auburn had a really good pitcher on the mound and then Jared (McKenzie) leads things off with a home run to get the offense going and relaxes everyone a bit and everyone followed suit. I thought they did a great job competing at the plate and getting some key swings with guys in scoring position. Tyler Thomas did a phenomenal job getting us deeper into the game and giving us a chance to win. Jimmy Winston came in relief and did a really good job for us as well."
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WHAT'S NEXT
BU will finish the Round Rock Classic with Oklahoma in a non-conference matchup tomorrow at 5 p.m.
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To stay up to date throughout the season on all things Baylor baseball, follow the team on Facebook (Baylor Baseball), Twitter (@BaylorBaseball) and Instagram (@BaylorBaseball).
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In front of his hometown crowd, McKenzie got back on track with a solo homer on the second pitch of the game to put Baylor up 1-0. In his next at-bat, he once again went yard with a two-run opposite field shot to extend the Bears lead to 3-0.
Â
The Bears kept the runs coming in the fourth after scoring on a double play and an Antonio Valdez single to left field, making it 5-0 in favor of BU.
Â
Auburn got on the board with a run in the home-half of the frame, however, Baylor responded in the top of the fifth with four runs. McKenzie scored on a dropped third strike with the bases loaded, followed by outfielder Davion Downey's two-RBI single furthering the lead to 8-1. Valdez came up with his second RBI-single of the day to push the advantage to 9-1.
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After the Tigers made it 9-2, the Bears added three more runs in the sixth when third baseman Esteban Cardoza-Oquendo roped a two-RBI single into left field. Second-year freshman Kyle Nevin followed up with another RBI-single to left to give BU the double-digit lead, 12-2.
Â
Later in the eighth, Auburn homered to make the score 12-3 and in the ninth scored three more runs to cut the deficit to 12-6. With the bases loaded and two outs, fifth-year senior Logan Freeman shut the door with a strikeout to end the game.
Â
Fourth-year junior Tyler Thomas (1-0) impressed in his second start of the season, throwing five innings of work while one giving up one earned run and striking out three. Auburn's starting pitcher Richard Fitts (0-1) came up with the loss.
Â
NOTES
âĒ McKenzie's leadoff home run was the first for a BU player since Richard Cunningham on March 3, 2019 against Texas State.
âĒ McKenzie has totaled four home runs to lead the team this season after hitting none in 2020.
âĒ Nevin tied his career high by finishing 3-for-5 at the plate.
âĒ Pineda, fifth-year senior Andy Thomas, Valdez and third-year sophomore Chase Wehsener each have hits in every game this season.
âĒ T. Thomas picked up his first win on the mound since May 14, 2019 against UT Arlington.
âĒ The Bears have had double-digit hits in each of the games in 2021.
âĒ BU takes the 1-0 all-time series lead after the first meeting the two programs.
Â
QUOTE FROM COACH ROD
"Overall I thought our offense did a good job yesterday and then today we continued to do that. Auburn had a really good pitcher on the mound and then Jared (McKenzie) leads things off with a home run to get the offense going and relaxes everyone a bit and everyone followed suit. I thought they did a great job competing at the plate and getting some key swings with guys in scoring position. Tyler Thomas did a phenomenal job getting us deeper into the game and giving us a chance to win. Jimmy Winston came in relief and did a really good job for us as well."
Â
WHAT'S NEXT
BU will finish the Round Rock Classic with Oklahoma in a non-conference matchup tomorrow at 5 p.m.
Â
To stay up to date throughout the season on all things Baylor baseball, follow the team on Facebook (Baylor Baseball), Twitter (@BaylorBaseball) and Instagram (@BaylorBaseball).
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Thomas, Tyler (1-0)
L: Fitts, R. (0-1)
Batting:
HR: McKenzie, Jared 2
RBI: McKenzie, Jared 3 ; Cardoza-Oquendo, Esteban 2 ; Downey, Davion 2 ; Nevin, Kyle 1 ; Valdez, Antonio 2
Base Running:
RUNS: McKenzie, Jared 3 ; Pineda, Jack 2 ; Richardson, Tre 1 ; Thomas, Andy 2 ; Cardoza-Oquendo, Esteban 1 ; Downey, Davion 1 ; Nevin, Kyle 1 ; Valdez, Antonio 1
HBP: Richardson, Tre 1
Batting:
2B: Williams, S. 1
3B: Miller, T. 1
HR: Miller, T. 1
RBI: Williams, S. 1 ; Miller, T. 3 ; Howell, K. 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Brown, B. 1 ; Shenker, J. 1 ; Miller, T. 3 ; Moore, B. 1
SB: Bliss, R. 1 ; Howell, K. 1
Game Leaders
AB
5
R
3
H
3
RBI
3
AB
5
R
1
H
3
RBI
1
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
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OF
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RHP
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LHP
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1B
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