By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor
Baylor baseball dropped its opening game of the Frisco Baseball Classic 8-2 to the Cal Golden Bears Friday afternoon at Dr. Pepper Ballpark.
Cal used a five run second inning to break the game open against Baylor sophomore lefty Cody Bradford and despite getting a pair of runs in the fourth and fifth innings, the Bears never really threatened.
After two excellent starts from Bradford to open the year, Cal was able to get to him early and often.
Bradford (1-1) lasted just 4 2/3 innings, allowing six runs on eight hits with four walks and did not record a strikeout.
Baylor head coach Steve Rodriguez said his team needs to play a lot better if it wants to win the rest of the weekend, but credits Cal for its approach against Bradford.
“We did not play great baseball today and it needs to get better for the rest of the weekend,” Rodriguez said. “The California hitters did a good job of making [Cody Bradford] work, capitalizing on mistakes and doing what they’re supposed to do in offensive counts. We didn’t take advantage of our opportunities.”
Bradford was able to wiggle out of a two on nobody out jam in the first by producing a 4-6-3 double play to end the threat, but he was not so lucky in the second inning.
After a leadoff walk, designated hitter Korey Lee laced an RBI double to the gap in left-center field, putting the Golden Bears in front 1-0. Then with two outs, sophomore shortstop Cameron Eden lined an RBI single to left for a 2-0 lead.
Bradford’s third walk of the game put runners on first and second for freshman second baseman Darren Baker, who then singled and both runners advanced to second and third on the throw to the plate. Bradford then hit a batter to load the bases, setting up junior outfielder Tanner Dodson’s two-run single to left-center, putting Cal up 5-0.
Baylor cut the deficit to 5-1 in the fourth after junior outfielder Cole Haring’s RBI single scored sophomore third baseman Davis Wendzel, who reached on a fielder’s choice and then swiped second base.
Cal then loaded the bases with nobody out in the top of the fifth and answered with a run on an RBI groundout.
Sophomore catcher Shea Langeliers, got his second hit of the game in the fifth with an RBI single to make it 6-2.
Cal added a run in the sixth and one more in the seventh to put Baylor away.
Sophomore Jared Horn (3-0) got the win for the Golden Bears, allowing two runs on four hits with a pair of walks and two strikeouts. Junior Aaron Shortridge pitched the final four innings, allowing two hits and striking out six.
The trio of freshman Collin Garrett and sophomores Luke Boyd and Ryan Lekich finished the game for Baylor out of the bullpen. Combined, they allowed one run on three hits in 4 1/3 innings of relief with five strikeouts. Lekich had four of them.
At the plate, Baylor managed just six hits, with Langeliers and Haring each having two.
Baylor (3-3) takes on No. 9 Texas A&M at 6 p.m. tomorrow at Dr. Pepper Ballpark in Frisco.
