By Nathan Keil | Sports Writer
No. 21 Baylor baseball continued its difficult stretch dropping two of three against the Washington Huskies over the weekend. The Bears dropped a 5-4 decision on Friday and a 6-0 one on Saturday before taking Sunday’s finale 6-3.
On Friday, Baylor scratched three runs across in the ninth to take a 4-3 lead before falling 5-4.
Junior outfielder Kameron Esthay started the rally with a double and scored on freshman outfielder Davis Wendzel’s single. Junior first baseman Cameron Miller then connected on a two-run home run, putting the Bears up a run heading to the bottom of the ninth.
In the ninth, Baylor head coach Steve Rodriguez turned the game over to his closer in junior Troy Montemayor, who was six for six in save opportunities on the season. The Huskies got two singles and a walk off Montemayor and took advantage of an error in stealing game one.
Senior outfielder Kyle London, who delivered the walk-off hit said the Huskies did a great job keeping their composure after giving up the lead in the ninth inning.
“I don’t think anyone panicked,” London said on Washington’s official athletic site. “I was just trying to put a good swing on a pitch – it was a changeup down – I wanted to hit something hard through the infield and that’s what happened. It’s always fun to win the exciting ones…it proves to the team that we can win in any kind of way.”
Senior pitcher Nick Lewis started the game for the Bears and pitched well, allowing two runs on five hits in seven innings. The right-hander struck out five but walked four batters as well.
On Saturday, the Huskies got to junior pitcher Montana Parsons early with three runs in the first en route to a 6-0 win.
Washington took advantage of two walks and a Baylor error in getting three runs across in the first. The Huskies added three more runs in the seventh inning to put the game out of reach.
Huskies’ junior catcher Joey Morgan delivered the big blow with a two run double in the inning and a second Baylor error allowed the final run to score.
Morgan led the Washington offensive attack with two hits while driving in three runs.
Washington head coach Lindsay Meggs said the Huskies played their best game all year in getting the victory.
“That’s about as clean of a game we have played this season,” Meggs said on Washington’s official athletic site. “We controlled the tempo and we threw strikes.
The Baylor bats woke up in a big way in its 6-3 win in the series finale on Sunday.
Freshman catcher Shea Langeliers led the way for Baylor, hitting two home runs, a solo home run in the first and three-run home run in the third. Senior designated hitter Matt Menard accounted for the rest of the damage, delivering a run scoring single in the fourth and a solo home run of his own in the seventh.
Washington senior outfielder MJ Hubbs countered Langeliers’ first inning home run with his second home run of the season.
Morgan, despite only going one for four at the plate, delivered a two-run single for the Huskies in the third inning.
Freshman pitcher Cody Bradford earned his fourth win of the season for the Bears, tossing 5 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits with one walk and three strikeouts.
Two days after blowing his first save of the season, Montemayor pitched a scoreless ninth inning to earn his seventh save of the season.
Rodriguez credits his team for continuing to compete, especially the work from his bullpen.
“It was huge to get a win and get multiple hits in an inning. Today wasn’t much different than we’ve been playing – there was no magic potion – the balls we hit just found holes today. Kyle Hill was really good today in an extended outing out of the bullpen, and we pitched it well all-around today.”
Baylor finishes the weekend 19-9 overall and will return to Baylor Ballpark for a midweek showdown with Lamar beginning at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
