By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor
Baylor baseball picked up its second midweek win of the season, knocking off Dallas Baptist 5-2 at Horner Ballpark.
The Bears picked up the win by committee with senior Alex Phillips, who threw both games against the Patriots in 2017, getting the start and tossing two innings, allowing just one hit and one walk with four strikeouts.
Phillips then gave way to sophomore Jacob Ashkinos, who allowed just one hit with three walks in four innings while striking out a career-high nine batters.
Junior Kyle Hill then tossed a scoreless seventh and eighth, before running into trouble in the ninth.
The Patriots’ rally started with a one out error by sophomore first baseman Shea Langeliers. Hill then walked a batter before picking up his second strikeout of the game. Back-to-back singles by sophomore infielder Camryn Williams and junior outfielder Jameson Hannah, the second of which drove in a pair, chasing Hill and forcing Baylor head coach Steve Rodriguez to put the ball in the hands of his closer, senior Troy Montemayor.
Facing senior left-fielder Devlin Granberg, who had a hit in three at-bats, Montemayor threw one pitch and got Granberg to bounce out to senior shortstop Tucker Cascadden, who got him by a step on his throw to first base, preserving the Bears’ victory.
Montemayor picked up his sixth save and needed just one pitch to get it for his second straight outing.
Offensively, Baylor got to junior Kody Funderburk early, tagging him for three runs on four hits and chasing him after just two innings.
Sophomore third baseman Davis Wendzel walked to open the second inning and a single by sophomore catcher Andy Thomas put two men on with nobody out. A sacrifice bunt moved them to second and third and freshman outfielder Davion Downey then reached on an error, allowing both Wendzel and Thomas to score, putting the Bears in front 2-0.
Consecutive singles by senior outfielder Levi Gilcrease and Cascadden gave Baylor a 3-0 lead in the second inning.
Junior designated hitter Richard Cunningham led off the third with a double and scored two batters later on a groundout for a 4-0 lead.
Junior second baseman Josh Bissonette then turned on a hanging breaking ball and drilled a solo shot for a 5-0 lead in the top of the fifth and that score would stand until the ninth.
Downey and Thomas each had two hits to lead Baylor.
Baylor (11-7, 2-1) returns home for a three-game series with Kansas beginning at 6:35 p.m. Friday at Baylor Ballpark.
