Baylor Baseball Opens Series with Commanding Win Over Houston
In a Friday night showdown at Schroeder Park, Baylor baseball showcased their prowess with a 6-2 victory over Houston. The Bears, now sitting at 14-11 overall and 3-4 in Big 12 play, were powered by redshirt senior Tyce Armstrong's impressive performance at the plate. Armstrong, a force to be reckoned with, launched his ninth and tenth homers of the season, setting the tone for Baylor's offense.
On the mound, redshirt junior Lucas Davenport delivered a standout performance, pitching a career-high 5.1 innings and matching his personal best with six strikeouts. His efforts earned him his second win of the season. Junior reliever Charlie Atkinson also shone, tying his season high with 2.2 innings of effective relief before fifth-year senior Caleb Bunch closed things out in the ninth.
Sophomore Cade Dodson contributed with two hits and an RBI, reinforcing Baylor's lineup from the nine-hole. Meanwhile, the Cougars struggled to keep up, allowing two runs on wild pitches and failing to overcome Baylor's early lead.
Game Highlights
The game began as a pitching duel with both Davenport and Houston's Connor Udland trading zeros through three innings. But the Bears broke through in the fourth when Armstrong sent a two-run shot over the right-center wall, putting Baylor ahead 2-0.
Davenport was nearly untouchable early on, not allowing a hit until the fourth inning. He ended the inning with a strikeout, his third of the night, quashing any momentum for the Cougars.
In the fifth, Baylor threatened to extend their lead, loading the bases and forcing Udland out of the game. However, consecutive strikeouts left the Bears unable to capitalize further.
Houston managed to get a runner in scoring position in the fifth, but Davenport responded by striking out the side, bringing his total to six.
Baylor's offense ignited again in the sixth, scoring three runs on two hits. Dodson's two-out RBI double sparked the rally, and two wild pitches allowed Dodson and catcher JJ Kennett to cross the plate, stretching the lead to 5-0.
Davenport exited in the sixth after conceding an RBI single, but Atkinson contained the damage, keeping Baylor comfortably ahead at 5-1.
Armstrong delivered again in the seventh with a solo home run, his second of the night, pushing the score to 6-1. Houston responded with a solo homer of their own, but Atkinson and Bunch shut down any further comeback attempts, sealing the series opener.
Notable Achievements
- Baylor improved to 92-74 all-time against Houston and secured their second win over the Cougars under head coach Mitch Thompson.
- The Bears continued their Friday night success, moving to 6-1 this season, including a perfect 3-0 in Big 12 series openers.
- Baylor's six extra-base hits tied a season high, with their four doubles setting a new season benchmark.
- The Bears reached 40 stolen bases for the season, achieving this milestone faster than any year since 2011.
- Davenport's strong outing marked the fourth time a Baylor starter has pitched five or more innings while allowing three or fewer earned runs this season.
Quotable Moments
Head Coach Mitch Thompson praised his team's performance, highlighting the effective pitching and error-free baseball as key to their victory. "We played good baseball and got a really well-pitched ballgame," Thompson said, emphasizing the importance of limiting free bases.
Tyce Armstrong relished his two-homer night in his hometown, sharing, "It's awesome. My parents got to come out and got to see that. Anytime you perform like that, it's a blast."
Looking Ahead
Baylor looks to build on their momentum as they face Houston again on Saturday, March 28, with the first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. at Schroeder Park.