WACO – The Sam Houston Bearkats were unable to capitalize on early opportunities, falling 4-0 to Baylor on Tuesday night at Baylor Ballpark.
Dominic Robinson did not allow a run in 4.0 innings of his first start of 2021, but the Bearkat (1-4) offense struggled to string anything together, going 1-for-12 with runners on base and stranding six on the night against the Baylor (3-4) pitching staff.
The Kats were only able to muster a pair of singles from
Blake Faecher and
Clayton Chadwick, and a double from
Gavin Johnson against four Bear arms. Hambleton Oliver picked up the win for Baylor with 2.0 innings of relief, benefitting from the Bears pushing across three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Each of those runs were charged to Bearkat reliever
Matt Rudis an inning after he pitched a perfect fifth, saddling him with the loss.
The Bearkats put a runner on base in each of the first five innings, but were unable to get anything across. The best opportunity came in the second inning when they loaded the bases with one out on singles by Faecher and Chadwick and a walk to
Corbin Vines; however, Baylor starter Logan Freeman responded with a strikeout and a flyout to prevent any damage.
Robinson worked out of a jam with a pair of Bears on base and one out in the bottom half of the inning and made it through four scoreless frames before handing the ball off to the bullpen.
Rudis proceeded to toss a perfect fifth, and nearly was given a lead in the top of the sixth on a big swing from
Jack Rogers who was robbed of a homer by a great play at the fence by Baylor right fielder Davion Downey.
The Kats quickly ran into trouble in the sixth and the Bears were able to break through when Andy Thomas blasted a 2-run homer off of Rudis over the batter's eye for the game's first runs.
Sam Houston would put three more runners on base in the next two innings, but a caught stealing and a double play erased any chance of a threat.
Sam Houston will now make its way to Minute Maid Park this weekend to take part in the Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic. The weekend event will kick off with the Kats vs Rice at 11:00 a.m. on Friday. The Kats will also battle top-10 opponents Texas Tech and TCU on Saturday and Sunday.
