ROUND ROCK, Texas - A Tough Loss for Baylor Baseball at the Round Rock Classic
In a nail-biting finish at the 2026 Round Rock Classic, Baylor baseball fell just short, losing 6-5 to Purdue on Saturday afternoon. The Bears took an early lead but couldn't hold off a late surge from the Boilermakers.
Calder's Commanding Start
Senior lefty Ethan Calder was a standout for Baylor, delivering five scoreless innings and joining an elite group as only the sixth starting pitcher in tournament history to achieve this feat. Calder's performance kept Baylor in control early, as he allowed just four hits and two walks while striking out five.
Baylor Builds a Strong Lead
Baylor (4-2) jumped out to a 5-0 advantage, showing aggressive base running and timely hitting. Sophomore Pearson Riebock set the tone by walking, stealing second, and scoring on a single by freshman Brady Janusek. Redshirt freshman Brytton Clements added his first career RBI with a double, and the Bears continued to apply pressure with a three-run fifth inning.
Purdue's Comeback
Despite Baylor's early dominance, Purdue (3-3) found their rhythm against the bullpen, collecting 10 hits. The Boilermakers got on the board with a three-run homer in the sixth and tied the game in the seventh with a couple of key hits.
Baylor had a chance to reclaim the lead in the eighth, loading the bases, but a diving catch by Purdue's first baseman kept the game tied.
Heartbreaker in the Ninth
The ninth inning proved decisive as Purdue's leadoff man reached base and advanced on a sacrifice bunt. A clutch single up the middle sealed the comeback win for Purdue, leaving Baylor to reflect on a hard-fought battle.
Notable Performances and Stats
- Baylor's aggressive base running was on full display with a season-high five stolen bases.
- Travis Sanders extended his hitting streak to eight games and on-base streak to 11.
- Both Pearson Riebock and Brady Janusek have reached base safely in all six games this season.
Quotable Insights
Head Coach Mitch Thompson acknowledged Purdue's resilience: "Tough one. You've got to give Purdue credit, they fought back and got back in that game. We took a nice 5-0 lead and Ethan [Calder] threw the ball extremely well in his start."
Calder reflected on his outing: "I felt like I was commanding the heater pretty well. Felt like I was able to get it in and get some weak contact."
Looking Ahead
Baylor (4-2) will look to bounce back as they close out the Round Rock Classic against No. 18 Southern Miss (4-1) on Sunday at 3 p.m. Stay connected with Baylor baseball on their official social media channels: @BaylorBaseball.