Baylor’s Big First Inning Powers Past New Mexico State for Series-Clinching Win
WACO, Texas - Baylor didn’t wait around to make a statement Saturday night. A five-run first inning at Magnolia Field set the tone early, and the Bears rode that wave all the way to a 5-2 win over New Mexico State, clinching their Opening Weekend series in front of a home crowd at Baylor Ballpark.
The sparks came fast and loud. After three straight walks loaded the bases in the bottom of the first, redshirt senior Tyce Armstrong stepped up.
The veteran slugger didn’t add to his NCAA record for grand slams, but he did put Baylor on the board with a blistering sacrifice fly that left the bat at over 110 mph. Then came the fireworks.
Redshirt sophomore John Youens launched a 1-0 pitch over the center-field wall for a three-run homer-the first of his career. And if that wasn’t enough, freshman Brady Janusek followed on the very next pitch with a solo shot of his own, his first collegiate hit and home run all in one swing.
Just like that, Baylor had a 5-0 lead before New Mexico State recorded an out in the second inning.
Pitching Dominance from Top to Bottom
On the mound, senior left-hander Ethan Calder set the tone with 3.2 scoreless innings, striking out five and keeping the Aggies off balance. He had a particularly dominant stretch, fanning four of five batters at one point before handing the ball off to fifth-year senior Caleb Bunch.
Bunch looked like a seasoned closer in his first outing of 2026. He tossed 3.1 shutout frames, giving up just one hit, walking none, and striking out three. His biggest moment came in the fourth, when he inherited a two-on, two-out jam and promptly shut the door with a strikeout to end the threat.
Senior right-hander Grayson Murry took the ball in the ninth and held off a late Aggies push, working around trouble after New Mexico State brought the tying run to the plate. Murry kept his composure, finished the job, and sealed the win.
Offense: Efficient and Opportunistic
While Baylor only collected three hits on the night, they made every one of them count. All three went for extra bases-Youens and Janusek with their homers, and redshirt junior Travis Sanders adding a triple.
The Bears also capitalized on free passes, drawing eight walks and getting hit twice by pitches. That’s now back-to-back games with double-digit free bases, a trend they’ll happily ride as the bats find their rhythm.
Sanders, who reached base four times, also swiped his second bag of the season and extended his on-base streak to seven games dating back to last year. Armstrong, too, kept his streak alive, now reaching base in 15 straight games.
Young Bats Making Noise
The night belonged to the newcomers in many ways. Youens’ three-run blast not only gave Baylor a cushion-it also marked a career-high three RBI game. Janusek’s solo shot was a highlight for the freshman, and head coach Mitch Thompson sees plenty of upside there.
“He’s got real power,” Thompson said postgame. “He can hit it out to all parts of the park.
We just need to get him comfortable and let him swing it. He hits balls as hard as anyone on this team.”
Freshmen Bo Caraway and Dylan Perez also made their collegiate debuts, giving the Bears a glimpse at the next wave of talent coming through.
Notes and Nuggets
- Baylor has now won six Opening Weekend series since 2016.
- Under head coach Mitch Thompson, the Bears are 6-5 on Opening Weekend.
- The Bears improved to 4-2 all-time against New Mexico State.
- Pitching coach Sean Snedeker’s staff continues to shine in the control department-just one walk allowed tonight.
That marks the 13th game under Snedeker with one walk or fewer.
- Youens and Janusek’s back-to-back homers were the first for Baylor since May 17, 2025, when Travis Sanders and Tyriq Kemp went yard in succession at UCF.
What’s Next
Baylor (2-0) will look to complete the sweep on Sunday when they wrap up the three-game set against New Mexico State (0-2). First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at Magnolia Field.
The Bears have already shown flashes of what this team could become-solid pitching, timely power, and a deep bench with young talent ready to contribute. If this Opening Weekend is any indication, Baylor baseball is starting 2026 with purpose.