Houston late comeback falls short in 4-2 loss to Baylor

Photo by Darla Tamulitis-La Vita Loca Photography, Copyright 2016 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2016 TexSport Publications

HOUSTON, TEXAS (March 4, 2016) Catcher Conner Wong connected for his second home run of the season in the bottom of the ninth inning, but it was not enough to silence the bats of the Baylor Bears as the No. 21 Houston Cougars dropped a 4-2 decision at Darryl and Lori Schroeder Park in Houston, Texas on Friday, March 4, 2016. It was the fifth straight loss of the season for the Cougars.

Baylor scored first when right fielder Richard Cunningham advanced home on a wild pitch by Houston starter Andrew Lantrip. The right hander hurled the ball past Wong allowing Cunningham to score after leading off the fourth inning with a triple to deep right field.

The Bears added their second run when catcher Matt Menard homered to deep left field on a 3-2 pitch by Lantrip to double their score. They added an insurance run in the eighth inning after the Cougars committed back-to-back errors, allowing two runs to get on base after walking leadoff batter Steven McLean. The third baseman scored from third on a sacrifice fly to right field by left fielder Darryn Sheppard.

In the ninth inning, the Bears again took advantage of a Houston wild pitch when shortstop Josh Bissonette score from third when relief pitcher Tanner Lawson lost control of the ball. Wong’s home run also scored Robert Grilli, who was pinch running for shortstop Jose Reyes after he reached first base by being hit by a pitch.

The Cougars will take to field to face the Bears in game two of the three-game of the weekend series at 6:45 p.m. CST on Saturday, March 5, 2016.