Memphis rally comes up just short in 8-7 loss to Baylor

Sunday, March 7

Waco, Texas

1 p.m.

University of Memphis

4-5

Baylor

7-4

Memphis

Baylor

Photo by: Matthew A. Smith

Memphis rally comes up just short in 8-7 loss to Baylor

Mar 07, 2021 | Baseball

Box Score

WACO, Texas – Despite a ninth inning rally, the Memphis Tigers came up just short of the come-from-behind win on Sunday, as they fell 8-7 to the Baylor Bears. The Bears scored in each of the first four innings and Memphis never led in the loss that capped off a four-game sweep for Baylor. The Tigers got a fifth-inning home run from Hunter Goodman and scored the final four runs of the game, but Alec Trela grounded into a game-ending double play as the Tigers lost their fifth straight.

Baylor (7-4) jumped out to a quick lead and never looked back. The Bears scored a run in the first inning and followed that with three straight frames of two runs in their fifth straight win. Andy Thomas put the Bears ahead with an RBI groundout against Landon Kelly (L, 1-1) in the first inning, while a pair of second inning RBI singles gave the Bears a 3-0 lead.

The Tigers (4-5) got back into the game on one swing against Hayden Kettler (W, 1-0), who made his 2021 debut. Ian Bibiloni reached on an error and Goodman followed with a line drive home run to right field, his fourth home run of the season. Goodman's two-run blast pulled the Tigers within one, but Memphis was not able to level the score.

Kelly issued a leadoff walk to Thomas in the third, who scored on a base hit from Esteban Cardoza-Oquendo. The Memphis starter struck out Davion Downey and picked off Cardoza-Oquendo at second base, but three straight Bears connected with two-out singles, as a base hit from Chase Wehsener made it 5-2 Baylor.

The Bears got to Kelly again in the fourth, as the Memphis starter didn't record an out in the inning. The first two Baylor hitters in the inning reached safely, as the Tigers turned to the bullpen and brought in Walker Brockhouse. A single from Tre Richardson loaded the bases with no outs. Both inherited runners later scored, as Thomas' sacrifice fly made it 6-2, while an RBI single from Downey made it 7-2 Baylor. Kelly allowed seven runs, six earned, and walked four over 3+ innings.

Kettler departed for the Bears with two outs in the fourth inning, as the Baylor bullpen combined for the final 13 outs. Jacob Ashkinos inherited two runners with two outs in the fifth and gave up an RBI single to Taylor Howell, but the righty struck out Zach Wilson and ended the inning. The Bears led 7-3 halfway through the series finale.

Baylor added a run in the seventh on a double from Jack Pineda, while Memphis answered with a run in the eighth on a sacrifice fly from Wilson. Reed Harding worked a scoreless eighth out of the Memphis bullpen and kept the Tigers within striking distance.

Up 8-4, the Bears went to Ryan Leckich to pitch the ninth, but the Baylor reliever didn't record an out. Leckich gave up a leadoff single to Max Hildreth, hit Jaylen Wilbon with a pitch, and gave up a two-run double to Bibiloni. Baylor was forced to bring in closer Luke Boyd (SV, 2), who nearly saw the game completely unravel. Boyd struck out Goodman before Ben Brooks made it a one run game with an RBI single up the middle. With the tying run on base and go-ahead run at the plate, Boyd secured his second save of the series, as he got Trela to ground into a game-ending double play that capped off Baylor's 8-7 win.

Off of a four-game sweep at the hands of the Bears, the Memphis schedule doesn't get much easier, as the Tigers remain on the road for a Tuesday matchup at Vanderbilt. First pitch in Nashville is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. and will end a stretch of six straight games for the Tigers against Power Five opponents. Memphis will then return home for a weekend series against Miami (OH) March 12-14 at FedExPark.