WACO, Texas – Baylor baseball shut out UTSA, 5-0, Tuesday afternoon at Baylor Ballpark in Waco to pick up its fourth win in a row to start the season.
 
BU (4-0) put together another strong performance on the mound, as five Bears combine to hold the Roadrunners (1-3) scoreless. The effort marked Baylor's first shutout since March 14, 2023, against Rice.
 
The Bears received contributions from up and down the lineup, as redshirt sophomore infielder Jack Little produced three hits out of the leadoff spot and senior infielder Tyriq Kemp added three hits from the 9-hole. Redshirt senior outfielder Enzo Apodaca provided the spark, a two-run home run in the third inning for his first blast of the season.
 
THE RUNDOWN
Freshman southpaw Carson Bailey set the tone early in his first collegiate start for the Bears, allowing just one hit in three scoreless innings while racking up five strikeouts. He benefitted from an early lead after Little scored on an RBI groundout by senior outfielder Wesley Jordan in the bottom of the first frame.
 
Apodaca increased the BU advantage with a two-run jack in the third as Bailey handed the ball off to senior righty Caleb Bunch, who pitched the next two innings without allowing a run.
 
Baylor put another run on the board in the fourth as senior outfielder Ty Johnson scored on a UTSA error. Then in the sixth, the Bears added one more to their tally as Little singled home Kemp to make it 5-0.
 
Junior lefty Caleb Jameson made his Baylor debut with two scoreless innings of relief, bridging the way for sophomore southpaw RJ Ruais to come on and pitch a scoreless eighth. Sixth-year senior right-hander Gabe Craig slammed the door in the ninth with two strikeouts to seal the victory.
 
HIGHLIGHTS
• Baylor's four-game win streak is its longest to start a season since 2019.
• BU improved to 37-10 all-time against UTSA and collected its first win over the Roadrunners under third-year head coach Mitch Thompson.
• The Bears recorded their first shutout since March 14, 2023 (6-0 vs. Rice).
• Baylor has now won each of its last six midweek contests dating back to the 2024 season.
• Four of BU's nine hits (44%) went for extra-bases, as Tyriq Kemp, Jack Little and Hunter Simmons each doubled, while Enzo Apodaca hit his first home run of the season.
• The Bears racked up 12 strikeouts on the mound, marking the third time this season the team has eclipsed double figures in punchouts.
• Senior OF Wesley Jordan extended his on-base streak to 38 games, taking sole possession of second place on BU's modern-era (since 2003) leaderboard, trailing only David Murphy's 42-game streak in 2003.
• Redshirt sophomore INF Jack Little extended his multi-hit streak to four games with his second three-hit performance of the season, which tied a career high.
• Senior INF Tyriq Kemp tied a career-high with three hits.
• Freshman LHP Carson Bailey made his first collegiate start and earned his first-career win after throwing three scoreless innings with five strikeouts.
• Senior RHP Caleb Bunch logged his first scoreless relief appearance of the year.
• Junior LHP Caleb Jameson made his Baylor debut with two scoreless innings and a strikeout.
• Sophomore LHP RJ Ruais made his first appearance of the season and pitched a scoreless inning with a strikeout.
• Sixth-year senior RHP Gabe Craig fanned two in a scoreless ninth inning.
 
STAT OF THE DAY
0 – Baylor allowed zero runs, shutting out its opponent for the first time since March 14, 2023, and just the second time in the Thompson era.
 
QUOTABLE
Head Coach Mitch Thompson 
On the Bears' pitching performance…
"Every guy that we ran out there threw strikes and competed well. They've got good stuff. It was good to see Carson Bailey get out there and get his first start, I thought he handled it well. Bunchie [Caleb Bunch] came in and threw strikes. Caleb Jameson got his feet wet. Good to see RJ [Ruais] get back out there and do well. And then, Gabe [Craig] was great. I was glad to get the shutout at the end. The guys fought hard for it and it's a great thing for the staff."
 
On the offense's production…. 
"I thought our hitters competed well and battled. It's just good baseball. We get a leadoff double, we move him up, we score him on a ground ball. It's just good baseball. The guys are playing well and they're playing with a lot of confidence right now."
 
Redshirt Sophomore Infielder Jack Little
On contributing early after missing last season… 
"It feels great. It was a long year last year. But now being back out here with the guys has been a lot of fun. Our lineup did a great job. The coaches put together a great game plan and when guys get on base it's always good. It's been great."
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Baylor (4-0) hosts Gonzaga (1-2) for a three-game series at Baylor Ballpark, beginning on Friday, Feb. 21, at 3 p.m.
 
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