K-State Takes Conference Opener Over BSB

Friday, March 17

Waco, Texas

6:30 PM

Baylor

6-12, 0-1

Kansas State

13-5, 1-0

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Kansas State	3	1	0	1	0	0	2	1	0	8	10	0
Baylor	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	6	1

Box Score (PDF)

Cortlan Castle scores a run against K-State 2023

K-State Takes Conference Opener Over BSB

3/17/2023 10:37:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Bears rack up 10 strikeouts for 14th time this season in Friday night loss

WACO, Texas – Kansas State (13-5, 1-0) got the best of Baylor baseball (6-12, 0-1) Friday night at Baylor Ballpark, taking an 8-1 decision in a Big 12 Conference opener in Waco.

Despite striking out double-digit batters for the 14^th time this season, the Bears were unable to muster up more than just one run against the Wildcats. Junior INF/OF Cole Posey and sophomore C Cortlan Castle each collected two hits, while junior OF Hunter Simmons drove in BU's lone run of the night.

THE RUNDOWN
K-State took advantage of three walks and a Baylor error to score three runs in the top of the first. Then, three-straight hits in the top of the second inning increased the 'Cats' lead to 4-0.

In the bottom of the third, Castle started things off with a single up the middle and moved to second on freshman INF Kolby Branch's walk. With the base on balls, Branch extended his on-base streak to 18 games. After redshirt freshman OF Gavin Brzozowski moved the runners with a sacrifice bunt, it was Simmons who delivered the RBI sac fly to get Baylor on the board.

BU's starting RHP and fifth-year senior Blake Helton settled in to allow just one more run before exiting in the fifth, trailing 5-1. While the Bears couldn't spark a rally in the middle to late innings, K-State tacked on a pair in the seventh and another in the eighth to increase its lead to 8-1.

KSU's bullpen held Baylor hitless in the final 3.1 frames of the ballgame, closing out the series-opening contest and handing BU its first Big 12 loss of the year.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Baylor still leads the all-time series, 53-33, over Kansas State.
• BU pitchers struck out double-digit batters for the 14^th time in 18 games this season.
• Friday night's mark of 10 punchouts signaled the Bears' third-straight game with at least 10 K's and the seventh time in the last eight efforts.
• Freshman INF Kolby Branch extended his on-base streak to 18 games to start the season.
• Fourth-year junior INF/OF Cole Posey tallied his third multi-hit game of the year and second in as many games.
• Sophomore C Cortlan Castle collected his first double of the year as part of a career high-tying two-hit game, his first of the year and fourth of his career.
• Junior OF Hunter Simmons notched his fourth RBI in his last four games.

STAT OF THE GAME
14 – Baylor pitchers struck out double-digit batters for the 14^th time in 18 games this season.

QUOTABLE
Head Coach Mitch Thompson
On tonight's game…
"I don't think we pitched the ball very well tonight. Obviously, we're going to have a hard time winning a game only scoring one, but I don't think we pitched very well. We walked them too many times, it started in the first inning and again we were playing from behind right from the get-go. It's a tough one. Give K-State credit, they took advantage of every opportunity we gave them."

WHAT'S NEXT
Baylor (6-12, 0-1) and K-State (13-5, 1-0) return to the diamond for a Saturday matinee at 2 p.m. at Baylor Ballpark in Waco.

To stay up to date on all things Baylor baseball, follow the team on its official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts: @BaylorBaseball.

-BaylorBears.com-