WACO, TEXAS (May 14, 2008) Baylor erased a two-run deficit with a four-run fifth, and Randall Linebaugh recorded a season-high seven strikeouts as the Bears defeated Texas State 7-2 in midweek action Tuesday night at Baylor Ballpark. The Bears (29-20) improved to 20-10 at home this season; Baylor has recorded at least 20 home wins in each of Baylor Ballpark’s 10 seasons. Texas State (27-24) has lost nine straight games against the Bears.
Aaron Fuller staked Texas State to an early lead with a two-run homer to right-center in the second. However, that was all the offense the Bobcats would produce on the night as Linebaugh and reliever Craig Fritsch held Texas State to only four base-runners – all singles – the rest of the way.
Raynor Campbell led off the fifth with his second single of the game and moved to second on a wild pitch. After Paul Miles walked and Gregg Glime was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Shaver Hansen tied the game with a one-out, two-run single through the right side. Beamer Weems followed with a sacrifice fly, scoring Glime and giving the Bears a 3-2 lead they would never relinquish. Dustin Dickerson capped the inning with a two-out single, scoring Hansen.
Paul Goldschmidt singled to open the top of the sixth, but Linebaugh quickly quelled the rally with a double-play ball off the bat of Lance Loftin. Linebaugh then got Ben Theriot to ground out, ending the inning and his night.
In his first start of the season after 14 relief appearances, Linebaugh (1-0) allowed two runs on six hits and one walk over a season-high 6.0 innings. His seven strikeouts were the most he had recorded since a career-high eight against Dallas Baptist in 2006. Fritsch scattered two hits and notched four strikeouts over 3.0 scoreless innings for his third save of the season.
Baylor added some insurance runs in the eighth. Weems and Dickerson opened the inning with consecutive singles. Two batters and one out later, Aaron Miller blasted a 3-0 Josh Walter offering over the wall in right-center for his team-leading 11th home run of the season.
Texas State starter Brian Borski (0-2) took the loss, allowing four runs on three hits and three walks with two strikeouts over 4.1 innings.
Eight of Baylor’s nine starters reached base safely at least once. Campbell and Dickerson both had two-hit nights.
Baylor returns to action Wednesday, hosting Stephen F. Austin for a 6:30 p.m. CDT first pitch in the Bears’ final home game of the season. Right-hander Tim Matthews (4-1, 3.89 ERA) earns the start for Baylor, while SFA counters with right-hander Jeremy Tamez (2-0, 4.50 ERA).
NOTES: Baylor leads the all-time series 42-14, including a 33-11 advantage in games played in Waco. The Bears are 28-9 against the Bobcats during head coach Steve Smith’s tenure. … Hansen extended his hitting streak to eight games.
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