Baseball Bounces Back with 9-3 Win Over No. 21 OSU

Sunday, May 16

Stillwater, Okla.

1 p.m.

Baylor

30-16, 0

Oklahoma State

30-16-1, 0

Baylor

Oklahoma State

Baseball Bounces Back with 9-3 Win Over No. 21 OSU

5/16/2021 10:58:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score

The Bears defeated the Cowboys after a five-hour rain delay

By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider
            STILLWATER, Okla. – Salvaging a game out of a series they could have swept, the Baylor Bears came out of a five-hour rain delay with three first-inning runs and defeated No. 21 Oklahoma State, 9-3, in Sunday's series finale at O'Brate Stadium.
            Snapping a five-game losing streak against the Cowboys (30-16-1, 12-12), the Bears (30-16, 10-11) stayed a game ahead of Oklahoma (25-25, 9-12) in the conference standings going into a three-game series that starts Thursday at Baylor Ballpark.
            "I think our guys are carrying a lot of confidence," Baylor coach Steve Rodriguez said. "When you don't make any errors and you can get good pitching and timely hitting, it's pretty simple. Allow those things to occur and try not to force the game, but we're playing really confident right now."
            The Bears made six errors in an 8-7, 11-inning loss in Friday's series opener, then went 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position in Saturday's 3-1 loss. But this time, they played near-flawless baseball, pounding out 11 hits, not committing an error and getting 4 1/3 scoreless innings from the bullpen.
            Second-year freshman Kyle Nevin made an overhead catch on a fly ball in the fifth, nearly came up with an overhead diving catch and made several big-time picks at first base, including one on a throw by second baseman Tre Richardson that was initially ruled an error but overturned on review.
            "When you see stuff like that, and you see a young player able to react in that situation coming from outfield to first base, it's really special," Rodriguez said.
            With the first five Baylor batters reaching base, OSU starter Bryce Osmond (2-5) barely made it out of the first inning. After back-to-back walks, Richardson came through with an RBI single to left that put the Bears on the board, then Antonio Valdez ripped a single up the middle that plated two more.
            Andy Thomas came up with a big two-out hit in the second, driving in his team-leading 54^th run of the season, after Jack Pineda and Jared McKenzie reached base for the second-straight inning. Pineda, Davion Downey and Jacob Schoenvogel had two hits apiece, while McKenzie went 1-for-2 and had a career-high four walks.
            The Cowboys answered with three runs on four-straight hits in the bottom of the second off starter Blake Helton, but Baylor was able to avoid further damage with its second double play of the night.
            After Shoenvogel led off the fourth with an infield single up the middle, the Bears scratched across another run on a sacrifice bunt by Pineda and Richard's sacrifice fly to right to make it 5-3. Getting into the bullpen early, Baylor tacked on three more runs in the fifth on three walks, a two-run double by Schoenvogel and Pineda's RBI single to center.
            While an early exit by Osmond forced the Cowboys to use nine pitchers on the day, Helton made it into the fifth and then left it to the bullpen. Freshman Cam Caley (2-1) picked up the win, giving up just one hit and one walk in 2.1 innings, Jimmy Winston tossed a scoreless eighth and then Luke Boyd struck out the side in the ninth, sandwiched around two hit batters.
            "First of all, I thought Blake Helton did a phenomenal job just getting to the fifth inning," Rodriguez said. "It was just an unlucky bounce on a strike three that got by Andy (Thomas). And then, Cam came in and just did a great job. For a true freshman to go out there and do what he's doing is a really good sign for his future."
            Baylor tacked on an insurance run in the eighth, when Richardson reached base on an error and scored on a sac fly by Valdez.
            Both teams wasted scoring opportunities, leaving 13 runners stranded apiece. After Carson McCusker reached base on a wild pitch on a third strike that would have been the third out of the inning, Caley came out of the bullpen and retired dangerous hitter Cade Cabbiness on a grounder to second for the final out.
            The Bears return home for the closing series against Oklahoma with games at 6:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 3 p.m. Saturday.

STILLWATER, Okla. – After a five-hour rain delay, Baylor bounced back in a big way after defeating No. 21 Oklahoma State, 9-3, on Sunday night at O'Brate Stadium in Stillwater, Okla. The Bears (30-16, 10-11 Big 12) snapped a five-game losing streak against the Cowboys (30-16-1, 12-12 Big 12) with the victory.

For the third time in the series, the Bears scored first after plating three runs in the opening frame. After two walks to open up the game, second-year freshman Tre Richardson singled through the left side to score one. Following another walk, sophomore Antonio Valdez singled to center field to score two more and give BU the 3-0 advantage.

Baylor added a run in the top of the second when fifth-year senior Andy Thomas singled to center to bring home sophomore Jack Pineda to push the BU lead to 4-0. The Cowboys had an answer in the bottom of the second after putting up a three-spot to cut it to 4-3.

True freshman Jacob Schoenvogel got things going for the Bears in the fourth with a single. Three batters later, it was Richardson again who plated Schoenvogel with a sacrifice fly to make it 5-3. In the fifth, two walks and a wild pitch set up runners on second and third for Schoenvogel who came through with a two-out two-RBI double. Pineda followed up with a single up the middle to make it 8-3 after five.

The Bears added an insurance run in the eighth to seal the win, 9-3.

BU starter Blake Helton was solid on the mound with 4.2 innings of work, giving up three and striking out three. True freshman Cam Caley (2-1) earned the victory in relief after hurling 2.1 innings of scoreless baseball. OSU starter Bryce Osmond (2-5) was tabbed with the loss.

NOTES
• Baylor snapped a five-game losing streak to the Cowboys.
• After starting Big 12 play 1-5, BU is now 10-11.
• On the weekend, Baylor's bullpen did not allow an earned run in 14.2 innings pitched.
• Eight of nine BU batters finished with a hit, while all nine reached.
• Caley has a 0.44 ERA in his last seven appearances (20.2 IP) after throwing 2.1 innings and earning his second-career win.
• Fifth-year senior Luke Boyd struck out the side for the first time this season after shutting the door in the ninth.
• Pineda, Davion Downey and Schoenvogel finished with two hits apiece.
• Schoenvogel set a new career-high in hits and RBI in just his second career start.
• Valdez set a new career-high with a team-leading three RBI.
• Second-year freshman Jared McKenzie posted a new career-high with four walks on the night.
• Thomas picked up his team-leading 54^th RBI of the season.

WHAT'S NEXT
The Bears will close out the regular season with a three-game home series against Oklahoma beginning on Thursday, May 20 at 6:30 p.m. at Baylor Ballpark.

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).