Sunday, April 13, 2008

BAYLOR BASEBALL BLANKS KANSAS STATE 3-0

MANHATTAN, KANSAS (April 13, 2008) Shawn Tolleson tossed a complete-game, four-hit shutout with a career-high 12 strikeouts as Baylor blanked Kansas State 3-0 in Sunday's Big 12 Conference series finale at Tointon Stadium. With the win, Baylor (22-13, 8-7) claimed the series victory two games to one, rebounding from a series-opener loss for the second time in Big 12 play this season. Kansas State (16-18, 3-9) was shutout in Big 12 play for the first time since a 3-0 loss to Missouri at home April 7, 2007.

Tolleson (4-1) joined Kyle Evans as the only Baylor pitchers to record multiple
complete-game shutouts in Big 12 play. Both Tolleson, who tossed a three-hit shutout in the Bears' 3-0 win against Oklahoma State last month, and Evans recorded both their shutouts in the same season. Evans had two, one of which was the league's first no-hitter, during the 2000 season.

Baylor scored all three runs in the third inning. Raynor Campbell started things with a one-out single, and Dustin Dickerson followed with a walk. Adam Hornung followed with a single up the middle to score Campbell.

The play was far from over, though. Kansas State centerfielder Dane Yelovich's throw home skipped away, allowing Dickerson to reach third and Hornung to reach second. Kansas State starter Lance Hoge was backing up the throw, but his attempt to get Dickerson at third sailed down the left-field line, allowing Dickerson to score. Aaron Miller followed with an RBI single to score Hornung from third.

That was all the offense Tolleson needed; although, the Bears had plenty of chances to break the game open. Baylor stranded 10 runners, all of which were in the game's first six innings and five of which were in scoring position. The Bears were 5-for-7 with two outs and no runners in scoring position but 0-for-5 with two outs and runners in scoring position.

Tolleson used 110 pitches on the day, 75 of which were strikes. He allowed singles in the first, fourth and seventh innings before Tyler Ruch's one-out bunt single in the ninth. Tolleson, whose previous career high for strikeouts was seven last weekend against Kansas, struck out the game's final two batters swinging.

Hoge (1-3) took the loss; he allowed three runs, two earned, on five hits and three walks with one strikeout over 2.2 innings.

Campbell finished the day 3-for-4, while Miller was 2-for-4. The Bears tallied 10 hits on the day.

Baylor returns to action Tuesday, hosting Dallas Baptist for a 6:30 p.m. CDT first pitch at Baylor Ballpark.

NOTES: Baylor leads the all-time series 29-10, including a 10-8 edge in games played at Manhattan. The Bears are 28-9 against the Wildcats since the inception of the Big 12 in 1997, including a 28-8 mark in regular-season meetings. Campbell has hit safely in 10 consecutive Big 12 games, a career-long streak and the longest by a Baylor player since Ben Booker hit safely in 13 straight league games last season.

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