BIG STEP UP
2/27/2025 10:27:00 PM | Baseball
Bears off to best start since going 8-0 in 2019
Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider
ARLINGTON, Texas – Leaving the comfort of Baylor Ballpark for the first time this season, the Baylor Bears (7-1) head just up the road to Arlington to play three games at the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series at Globe Life Field.
Opening the season at 7-1 or better for just the fourth time in the last 30 years, Baylor will face eighth-ranked Oregon State (5-2) at 7 p.m. Friday, Ohio State (1-5) at 2 p.m. Saturday and No. 25 Auburn (8-1) at 3 p.m. Sunday in the home of the 2023 World Series champion Texas Rangers.
"It's a dream come true, for sure," said junior catcher JJ Kennett, a transfer from Dallas Baptist who is hitting .374 with a home run and six RBIs, "getting to play at Globe Life (Field) with all the guys and live out that dream of playing in that park and really show everybody what Baylor baseball is about this year. That's super exciting."
While Baylor has certainly had an uptick on offense, with a .342 batting average that ranks 14th nationally and averaging 8 ½ runs per game, but the biggest difference has been with first-year pitching coach Sean Snedeker's staff. The Bears recorded back-to-back shutouts against UTSA and Gonzaga and rank 10th in the nation with a stingy 2.15 ERA.
"I honestly think it was just from the start," said senior right-handed reliever Caleb Bunch, a transfer from Northwestern (La.) State who has a 3.38 ERA and one of the team's four saves (by four different pitchers). "I think Coach Sned has done a great job just getting us ready and preparing for what's ahead. From the start up until now, it's been really good."
Not only are the Bears taking their game to a major league ballpark, they're making a big jump up in competition. After a 7-1 homestand against Youngstown State, UTSA, Gonzaga and SFA, Baylor is playing three other Power 5 conference opponents with a combined record of 14-8.
More of a baseball blue blood, Oregon State lost to Kentucky in the NCAA Super Regional last year in Lexington, has made seven College World Series appearances and won three national titles in 2006, 2007 and 2018. The only previous meeting with Baylor came in the 2005 CWS, when the Bears won 4-3 in 10 innings.
"It's been a good start," third-year Baylor head coach Mitch Thompson said. "First two weeks at home, kind of getting our feet underneath us and getting a feel for the ballclub and how to use guys. The first two weeks are behind us, and now we have to move forward, and we have a big weekend ahead of us."
Opening the season by getting swept by Big 12 newcomer Arizona State, the Buckeyes got their only win by beating North Carolina State at the Jax College Baseball Classic last weekend in Jacksonville, Fla.
Auburn has won series against Holy Cross and Wright State and hammered Samford, 15-8, on Tuesday. Cooper McMurray, who started his career at Kansas, is hitting .469 with five doubles, two homers and 11 RBIs.
"All three teams are talented," Thompson said. "We're ready to go up and compete. I'm excited to watch the guys compete. We'll be in conference in two weeks, so we'll learn a lot this weekend, for sure. But these guys are ready to compete."
The regular Friday night guy, junior lefty Ethan Calder (2-0, 0.75 ERA) is making his third start of the season and leads the team with 15 strikeouts.
"Bunchy" said the pitching staff's confidence is in "the other guys around you." Baylor's bullpen has allowed just eight earned runs in 35 innings of work.
"Every guy that we put out there, I have a ton of confidence that they're going to go out and get the job done," Bunch said.
All three games this weekend will be streamed by FloCollege, with Brent Freeman and former Texas State head coach Ty Harrington calling the action.
Baylor Bear Insider
ARLINGTON, Texas – Leaving the comfort of Baylor Ballpark for the first time this season, the Baylor Bears (7-1) head just up the road to Arlington to play three games at the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series at Globe Life Field.
Opening the season at 7-1 or better for just the fourth time in the last 30 years, Baylor will face eighth-ranked Oregon State (5-2) at 7 p.m. Friday, Ohio State (1-5) at 2 p.m. Saturday and No. 25 Auburn (8-1) at 3 p.m. Sunday in the home of the 2023 World Series champion Texas Rangers.
"It's a dream come true, for sure," said junior catcher JJ Kennett, a transfer from Dallas Baptist who is hitting .374 with a home run and six RBIs, "getting to play at Globe Life (Field) with all the guys and live out that dream of playing in that park and really show everybody what Baylor baseball is about this year. That's super exciting."
While Baylor has certainly had an uptick on offense, with a .342 batting average that ranks 14th nationally and averaging 8 ½ runs per game, but the biggest difference has been with first-year pitching coach Sean Snedeker's staff. The Bears recorded back-to-back shutouts against UTSA and Gonzaga and rank 10th in the nation with a stingy 2.15 ERA.
"I honestly think it was just from the start," said senior right-handed reliever Caleb Bunch, a transfer from Northwestern (La.) State who has a 3.38 ERA and one of the team's four saves (by four different pitchers). "I think Coach Sned has done a great job just getting us ready and preparing for what's ahead. From the start up until now, it's been really good."
Not only are the Bears taking their game to a major league ballpark, they're making a big jump up in competition. After a 7-1 homestand against Youngstown State, UTSA, Gonzaga and SFA, Baylor is playing three other Power 5 conference opponents with a combined record of 14-8.
More of a baseball blue blood, Oregon State lost to Kentucky in the NCAA Super Regional last year in Lexington, has made seven College World Series appearances and won three national titles in 2006, 2007 and 2018. The only previous meeting with Baylor came in the 2005 CWS, when the Bears won 4-3 in 10 innings.
"It's been a good start," third-year Baylor head coach Mitch Thompson said. "First two weeks at home, kind of getting our feet underneath us and getting a feel for the ballclub and how to use guys. The first two weeks are behind us, and now we have to move forward, and we have a big weekend ahead of us."
Opening the season by getting swept by Big 12 newcomer Arizona State, the Buckeyes got their only win by beating North Carolina State at the Jax College Baseball Classic last weekend in Jacksonville, Fla.
Auburn has won series against Holy Cross and Wright State and hammered Samford, 15-8, on Tuesday. Cooper McMurray, who started his career at Kansas, is hitting .469 with five doubles, two homers and 11 RBIs.
"All three teams are talented," Thompson said. "We're ready to go up and compete. I'm excited to watch the guys compete. We'll be in conference in two weeks, so we'll learn a lot this weekend, for sure. But these guys are ready to compete."
The regular Friday night guy, junior lefty Ethan Calder (2-0, 0.75 ERA) is making his third start of the season and leads the team with 15 strikeouts.
"Bunchy" said the pitching staff's confidence is in "the other guys around you." Baylor's bullpen has allowed just eight earned runs in 35 innings of work.
"Every guy that we put out there, I have a ton of confidence that they're going to go out and get the job done," Bunch said.
All three games this weekend will be streamed by FloCollege, with Brent Freeman and former Texas State head coach Ty Harrington calling the action.
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