Feb. 24, 2007

Box Score

WACO, Texas -- Aaron Miller and Chase Gerdes both homered, and Baylor had 10 two-out RBI as the Bears defeated Oral Roberts 12-7 Saturday afternoon at Baylor Ballpark. Baylor (7-3) clinched the series with the win, following Friday night's 3-2, 10-inning victory. The Bears have won seven straight overall and 14 consecutive games at Baylor Ballpark, one shy of the facility record established in 2000.

Baylor got the scoring started with a four-run second. Matt Czimskey was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and one out. Two batters later, Ben Booker scored another run with a two-out infield single, and Beamer Weems followed with a two-run single down the line in left.

That started a stretch of five consecutive innings in which Baylor scored. After Oral Roberts (2-5) got a two-out, three-run double from Tyler Warmerdam in the top of the third, Miller connected for his first career home run - a solo shot to right-center - in the bottom of the inning. Weems added a two-out RBI double in the fourth, and Gerdes had a two-out, two-run homer down the right-field line in the fifth.

Oral Roberts rallied for a three-spot in the top of the sixth, but Dustin Dickerson's two-out RBI single in the bottom of the inning pushed Baylor's lead back to 9-6. Brandon Duffy's RBI fielder's choice in the top of the seventh cut the Bears' lead to 9-7. Miller, who finished a career-high four RBI, gave Baylor insurance in the bottom of the eighth with a two-out, three-run double down the line in right.

Kendal Volz (2-0), the first of four Baylor relievers, earned the victory. He allowed three runs on five hits and two walks with three strikeouts over 2.1 innings. Starter Cliff Springston left after 3.0 innings; he was touched for three runs on three hits and five walks with one strikeout. Tim Matthews allowed one hit with one strikeout in 2.1 scoreless innings for his first save of the season.

ORU starter Marcus Tackett (1-1) was saddled with the loss; he allowed six runs on six hits and two walks with four strikeouts in 4.0 innings.

Weems finished 3-for-5 with three RBI and two doubles. Booker, Miller and Gerdes added two hits each. Nine of Baylor's 12 hits came with two outs.

Baylor and Oral Roberts conclude their three-game series Sunday at 1:30 p.m. CST. The Bears send senior right-hander Jeff Mandel (1-1, 6.55 ERA) to the mound. Oral Roberts has not yet announced a starter.

NOTES:  Baylor leads the all-time series 16-13, including a 12-9 advantage in games played in Waco. The Bears have won four straight meetings and are 8-3 against Oral Roberts during head coach Steve Smith's tenure. ... Baylor reached the 10-hit plateau as a team for the sixth consecutive game. ... Matthews has not allowed an earned run in 11 consecutive relief appearances. ... Weems (eight games), Gerdes (five) and Campbell (four) all extended hitting streaks. Weems' streak is the longest of his career. ... Baylor has won 21 of its last 22 when hitting at least two home runs. ... The Bears are 160-7 when leading after eight innings since the start of the 2002 season. Baylor has won 20 straight, 54 of its last 55 and 89 of its last 91 such games.