WACO, TEXAS (April 7, 2008) Four Bears homered in a 16-hit attack Sunday as Baylor defeated Kansas 17-7 in seven innings in the Big 12 Conference series finale at Baylor Ballpark. The Bears (19-11, 6-6) have won four straight Big 12 games with their third three-game series sweep of the season (Purdue, at Mississippi State). Kansas (19-16, 1-8) has lost six straight conference games.
Baylor’s 17 runs were its most in a Big 12 game since a 19-18 loss May 22, 2004, at Texas Tech. The Bears tied a season high with 11 extra-base hits on the day; Baylor finished the series with 41 hits in three games, including 18 extra-base hits, with 19 walks against 17 strikeouts.
Aaron Miller got the scoring started for the Bears with a three-run homer in the bottom of the first. Baylor added six runs on five hits and two walks in the second. Shaver Hansen started the scoring with an RBI triple, and Beamer Weems followed with an RBI double. After a couple walks loaded the bases, Raynor Campbell cleared the bags with a three-run triple. Ben Booker followed with an RBI double.
Dustin Dickerson’s two-run homer in the third staked the Bears to an 11-0 lead. Erik Morrison belted the first of his two home runs on the day in the top of the fourth, a two-run shot to left. Weems’ responded with a two-run homer of his own in the fifth; it was his second career left-handed home run at Baylor Ballpark.
Kansas scratched for a run in the top of the sixth before the Bears scored four runs in the bottom of the inning to put the game nearly out of reach. Miller and Jon Ringenberg had consecutive RBI doubles, and Booker followed with a two-run homer to right. The Jayhawks scored three runs in the top of the seventh, the last three of which came on Morrison’s second round-tripper; however, that was as close as Kansas would get.
Baylor starter Willie Kempf (5-1) earned the win; he allowed three runs on six hits and four walks with a season-high five strikeouts over 5.1 innings.
Kansas starter Sam Freeman (4-1) took the loss; he was touched for seven runs on five hits and three walks with a strikeout in 1.1 innings.
Every Baylor starter reached base safely, and eight of the nine produced at least one hit. Weems and Landis Ware both had three-hit games. Miller tallied four RBI, while Booker, Campbell and Weems each had three RBI. Weems scored four times, a career high, and Miller scored three times.
Baylor returns to action Tuesday, hosting TCU for a 6:30 p.m. CDT first pitch at Baylor Ballpark. The Bears also host UT Arlington at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday to conclude a six-game home stand.
NOTES: Baylor leads the all-time series 36-5, including a 20-1 advantage in Waco. The Bears are 31-5 against Kansas since the inception of the Big 12. Baylor is 11-1 in series against Kansas, winning 11 straight since losing the initial series in 1997. This was Baylor’s eighth sweep in series history. … Dickerson (seven games), Booker (five games), Adam Hornung (five games) and Campbell (three games) all extended hitting streaks. … Campbell has hit safely in seven straight Big 12 games, while Dickerson has hit safely in five straight conference games. … Baylor improved to 16-4 this season when the starting pitcher lasts at least 5.0 innings. … Baylor scored in each of the first two innings in consecutive games for the first time this season. The Bears scored in the first three innings for the third time this season and for the first time since the 11th game of the season (second game at Mississippi State). … Baylor improved to 7-1 on Sunday this season, including a 5-1 in three-game series finales.
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