Matt Hellman | Lariat Photo Editor
By Chris Derrett
Contributor
Baylor batted its way past UT-Arlington on Saturday, 11-6, to avoid elimination from the Waco Regional in this year’s NCAA tournament.
Senior Josh Ludy went 4-for-4, including a solo home run, and the Bears knocked five doubles in the offensive surge.
Max Garner got the win for tossing 3.0 relief innings, holding the Mavericks scoreless in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings as the Bears grabbed a lead they would not relinquish. Adam Boydston suffered the loss.
Baylor took the lead for good in the seventh inning via Cal Towey’s bases-loaded walk, which gave the Bears a 6-5 advantage. Jake Miller’s RBI-single pushed the lead to 7-5 later in the inning, and the Bears added three runs in the eighth. A run in the ninth gave Baylor its largest lead at 11-5.
Baylor starter Trent Blank lasted just 3.2 innings and allowed four runs on eight hits. Though Baylor initially jumped out to a 4-0 lead through the top of the second, UT-Arlington scored once in the bottom of the second, again in the third and twice in the fourth to tie the game at four.
The Mavericks took a short-lived, 5-4 lead with a solo home run in the fifth before Baylor rallied to a 5-5 tie with a run in the top of the sixth.
Baylor next plays at 2 p.m. Sunday against the loser of the Oral Roberts-Dallas Baptist game.
