FROM PRESS RELEASE
WACO, Texas — A pair of five-run innings proved detrimental for Baylor in Wednesday night’s midweek action at Baylor Ballpark as the Bears dropped an 11-7 decision to UTSA. The Bears (16-11) snapped a 23-game winning streak against UTSA (19-10), a streak that dated back to the 1994 season. Baylor also snapped a 13-game winning streak against Southland Conference teams, suffering its first loss to an SLC team since a 7-0 loss to McNeese State in 2006.
Michael Rockett’s three-run double keyed a five-run third inning for UTSA. The Roadrunners scored a run on three consecutive singles to start the inning. After a sacrifice bunt and a walk loaded the bases, Rockett cleared the bases with double to left-center. Rockett moved to third on a fly out and then scored on a wild pitch.
Baylor got a pair of runs back in the fourth on Ben Booker’s pinch-hit, two-out, two-run single to right. However, UTSA put another five-spot on the board in the seventh. Zach Ethredge capped the inning with three-run home run down the line in left.
After UTSA scrapped for a run in the top of the eighth to make it 11-2, Baylor put together a strong comeback that eventually led to the tying run reaching the plate in the ninth. Beamer Weems’ two-run homer in the eighth cut the deficit to 11-4. Booker pulled the Bears to within four runs with a three-run homer to right-center later in the inning.
Baylor loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the ninth thanks to a Dustin Dickerson single and walks by Weems and Aaron Miller. However, Zach Calhoon struck out Landis Ware to quell the threat.
UTSA starter Kris Ruepke (2-2) earned the victory and pitched much better than his final line indicated. He allowed six runs on seven hits and five walks with six strikeouts over 7.2 innings. Ruepke left the game just before Booker’s three-run homer in the eighth after using 138 pitches.
Baylor starter Wade Mackey (2-2) took the loss; he allowed five runs on four hits and two walks with two strikeouts over 3.0-plus innings, facing one batter in the fourth.
Booker and Dickerson both had two-hit nights, while Booker tied his career high with five RBI. It was his second consecutive game with a home run.
Baylor returns to action this weekend, hosting Kansas for a three-game Big 12 Conference series. The Bears and the Jayhawks meet Friday at 6:30 p.m. CDT, Saturday at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.
NOTES: Baylor leads the all-time series 25-3, including an 18-2 advantage in games played in Waco . The Bears are 23-1 against the Roadrunners during head coach Steve Smith’s tenure. … Baylor allowed 11 runs against UTSA, the most runs allowed by a Baylor team in a midweek home game since a 14-11 win over UTSA in 1999. … Weems’ home run was the 20th of his career. … Shaver Hansen (seven games), Ware (six games) and Dickerson (four games) all extended hitting streaks. Ware’s ties his career long.
