By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider
 
TUCSON, Ariz. – After scuffling and being "punched in the gut" in the first two games of the opening two conference series, Baylor baseball (17-7, 2-4) will shuffle things up when the Bears face No. 16/20 Arizona (19-5, 5-1) in a weekend series that begins Friday at Hi Corbett Field.
 
In each of the previous two series, the Bears responded with Sunday wins, beating Kansas, 9-7, and then run-ruling Kansas State, 19-4, in seven innings.
 
"It's been great to see that we show back up on Sunday, and it's a whole 'nother day, and we're ready to compete," said Baylor coach Mitch Thompson. "What it usually means is whoever's out there on that little circle in the middle of the field is giving you an opportunity. That's the thing we have to have from our starting pitching. They don't have to go out and win the game, they just can't lose it. Just keep us in the game."
 
That's what freshman Carson Bailey (2-0, 3.96 ERA) has done in his first two starts in conference series. Junior left-hander Ethan Calder (3-3, 5.46) and Bailey will stick to their spots in the rotation, with Calder starting Friday's 7 p.m. CT game and Bailey going getting the nod in Sunday's 1 p.m. series finale.
 
"We just want them to give us an opportunity to let these guys swing the bat and feel good about it," Thompson said. "Give us an opportunity to use the back end of our bullpen, where we feel like we're in great shape with that. And the guys get it, they understand. They're working at it, and we'll get better at it, I promise. We'll start winning some games on Friday and Saturday, too."
 
Thompson lists the starter for Saturday's 7 p.m. CT game as TBA, which might put a streak of left-handed starters in jeopardy. Friday's series opener will be the 14^th-consecutive game that Baylor has started with a lefty.
 
MCC transfer Stefan Stahl (1-0, 3.52) got the start in Tuesday's 13-4 win over UTA, when the Bears used nine different pitchers that included previous weekend starters Bryson Bales and Cole Stasio. A potential candidate is Blinn College transfer Lucas Davenport, a junior right-hander who is 2-0 with a 4.00 ERA, striking out 18 in 18.0 innings in six relief appearances.
 
"Jiminy Christmas, I almost don't want to break (the streak)," Thompson said. "That's never happened, not even close. I know there haven't been many (streaks that long) in a long, long time in college baseball. It's definitely a Baylor program record – 13, wow!"
 
Tuesday's win over UTA keeps the Bears undefeated (6-0) in midweek games this season.
 
"I think it's looking at each opponent and being like, 'All right, another baseball team,''' said junior outfielder Caleb Bergman, who hit his first-career home run Tuesday night. "Just because they're not conference play doesn't mean anything. Those games are still important. And I think our focus going into the games stays the same, no matter if it's the weekend or if it's a Tuesday game. And I think it's super important to win those games. They all matter."
 
Baylor is second in the Big 12 and 36^th nationally with a .308 batting average. Leading the way are fifth-year senior DH Hunter Simmons (.420, 3 homers, 23 RBIs) and freshman infielder Pearson Riebock (.419).
 
Moved from No. 2 back to the leadoff spot that he held all last year, senior rightfielder Enzo Apodaca (.330, 5, 26) said "there's really not a big difference hitting 1 or 2, in my opinion."
 
"My approach stays the same," Apodaca said. "But whatever Coach has me do, I'll do for the team."
 
Baylor faces an Arizona club that is hitting .295 and ranks third in the league with a 3.87 ERA. The Wildcats have won 19 of their last 21 games, including series wins over Cincinnati and West Virginia, after an 0-3 start with losses to Ole Miss, Clemson and Louisville in the Shriners Children's College Showdown at Globe Life Field.
 
"They scuffled the opening weekend in Arlington," Thompson said. "We've been there, done that before . . . against good competition. (They're a) really offensive club, got some big arms. Obviously, they'll be a challenge. Tucson should be rocking pretty good. So, we'll have our hands full, but we're looking forward to going out there and competing."
 
Former Baylor pitcher Collin McKinney (0-1, 1.40 ERA) is the Friday night starter for the Wildcats and will be opposed by Calder. All three games this weekend will be streamed by ESPN+.