March 12, 2011

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WACO, Texas - Baylor batted around and scored six runs on six hits and a walk in the bottom of the sixth inning to overcome a one run deficit and held on to knock off Louisiana Tech, 12-8, Saturday afternoon at Baylor Ballpark.

With Caleb Dudley on in relief and Baylor trailing by one run in the sixth, the Bears put two runners on base before Chris Slater ripped a two-run double through the right side to give the Bears an 8-7 lead. Following an intentional walk, Josh Ludy belted a two-run single through the left side and advanced to second on the throw to the plate.

Looking to stifle the rally, the Bulldogs turned to Will Alvis from the bullpen. However, Wes Mercurio hit a pinch hit triple to right center the scored two more runs for the Bears. Jake Miller capped off the scoring in the inning with a flare down the right field line that went for a double and plated one run.

Dudley was charged with his first loss of the season and the first since the Bulldogs dropped game one of a doubleheader against Texas last season. The sophomore right-hander allowed five runs on four hits in just 0.2 innings of work.

Baylor (10-5) jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning courtesy of an RBI single from Max Muncy. The Bears added another run off of a wild pitch from Tech starting pitcher, Mike Jefferson.

Jefferson finished the evening throwing 80 pitches and allowing six runs on nine hits and three walks over 4.2 innings.

Despite the early deficit, the Bulldogs responded by posting three runs in the second inning off of a safety squeeze from Ryan Gebhardt, a sacrifice fly from Will Alvis and an RBI single to right field from Justin Gordey. However, the Bears answered by playing three runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning to regain the lead.

In the top of the fourth inning, Joey Ford and Clint Ewing were both hit by pitches from Baylor starter Trent Blank. Following three consecutive singles and a sacrifice fly, Tech managed to take a 7-5 lead heading into the bottom half of the inning. The Bears picked up a run in the fourth on an infield single to second base, cutting the deficit to just one run.

Dillon Newman (1-1), who ended the Tech scoring threat in the fourth inning, picked up his first win of the season after tossing 3.0 innings in relief and allowing just two hits while striking out one batter.

Looking to overcome a five run deficit in the ninth, Marc Picciola led off the inning with a double off of Kolt Browder and scored following back-to-back singles from Gordey and Kyle Roliard. With two runners on and no outs, Baylor turned to their closer, Brooks Pinckard, who picked up his third save of the season after retiring all three of the batters that he faced.

Louisiana Tech (8-6) will send Jeb Stefan to the mound tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m. CST in the series finale against the Bears. The Bulldogs will look to salvage a win in the series and avoid their first sweep in a four game series since falling to New Mexico State last season.

Notes: Louisiana Tech is now 3-7 all-time against Baylor... The Bulldogs have now dropped four-straight games for the first time since the Bulldogs dropped four games to close the 2010 season... Mark Threlkeld has made 86 consecutive starts in a Bulldog uniform... Ryan Gebhardt had a career-high two RBI... Mike Jefferson tallied his fifth pickoff of the season... Justin Gordey's three base hits tied his career-high.... Clint Ewing has now been hit five times this season to lead the WAC.