By Greg DeVries
Sports writer
The winning streak extends to 10 games for the No. 21 Baylor baseball team after they beat the Oklahoma State Cowboys 3-2. Senior right-handed pitcher Trent Blank earned the win and moved to 7-0 on the season. The Bears are now 21-7 on the season and remain atop the Big 12.
“Trent was maybe as good as I’ve seen him this year,” head coach Steve Smith said. “Coming off of the last one, that’s really good to see. He bounced back from last weekend really really well.”
Baylor struck first blood in the bottom of the second inning when senior designated hitter Dan Evatt hit a solo home run to right-center field. The home run was Evatt’s second of the year and number 20 of his career.
The Bears added to their lead in the third inning when the Oklahoma State catcher interfered with junior center fielder Logan Vick’s swing with the bases loaded. Vick was awarded first base on the error, and junior left fielder Nathan Orf came home on the play, extending Baylor’s lead to 2-0.
Junior third baseman Cal Towey took it upon himself to extend the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. Towey hit a solo home run to right-center field, about the same spot that Evatt hit his home run to. This was Towey’s first home run of the season.
Oklahoma State finally got on the board in the top of the seventh inning. Cowboy first baseman Gabe Weidenaar hit a two-out RBI double down the left field line to bring the score to 3-1.
Blank was pulled after seven innings of work. He allowed four hits and two earned runs. Sophomore right-hander Dillon Newman replaced Blank on the mound.
“I try to just go one pitch at a time and that keeps me in the strike zone,” Blank said.
Blank’s second earned run came after Newman came in to replace him. There was a runner already on third when Oklahoma State catcher Jared Higgins hit an RBI sacrifice fly to deep left field that cut the lead to 3-2. The score remained the same going into the ninth inning.
Newman was pulled in the top of the ninth inning for senior right-hander Tyler Bremer. After walking one batter, Bremer forced Oklahoma State to ground into a game-ending double play.
“With the defense that we’re playing right now, all I wanted was a ground ball in that situation,” Bremer said. “[Their batter] is coming off of the bench. Hasn’t played. Hasn’t swung the bat. So if I could start him off with a curve ball, I’m sure it made my fastball look a lot harder than what it was.”
Blank was especially appreciative of the support of the nearly 3,500 fans that were in attendance.
“It’s great. I came here because I heard this was a baseball school. People love baseball here and it’s great to see them out here and supporting us,” Blank said. “I hope they keep coming out.”
The Bears will wrap up their season series against the Oklahoma State Cowboys on Sunday, April 1. The first pitch will be at 1:05 p.m. at Baylor Ballpark.
