By Chris Derrett
Editor In Chief
Baylor’s bullpen lost control late in Tuesday night’s game against TCU, and the Bears fell, 9-4. Junior Colt Browder took the loss after allowing two costly walks that helped the Horned Frogs grab an eighth-inning lead they would not lose.
Baylor entered the bottom of the eighth ahead 4-3 but surrendered six runs in the frame.
After striking out the leadoff hitter, the Bears allowed four consecutive walks that included two from Browder and brought home the tying run.
Junior Nick Wright, whose walk let TCU tie the game at four, later gave up a 2-RBI single and hit back-to-back batters, the first of which loaded the bases and the second of which gave the Horned Frogs a 7-4 advantage.
TCU managed a dubious honor despite grabbing the win, tying an NCAA team single game record with 10 hit batters.
With Baylor’s three hit batters, Tuesday’s game set a new NCAA record of combined hit batters. The previous record was 12 when South Florida (8 hit batters) faced Central Florida (4) on April 1, 2008.
The Bears briefly took a 4-3 lead in the top of the seventh. Junior Josh Ludy drove in the first of three runs in the inning with an RBI-groundout, junior Logan Vick drilled an RBI-double and freshman Michael Howard reached on a throwing error that allowed Vick to score.
Ludy finished the game with two RBI and is tied for second on the team in batting average at .327.
The Bears next face Michigan State (4-6) today at 6:35 p.m. at Baylor Ballpark. The Spartans were swept by Texas A&M last weekend in a three game series.
