By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay
Enzo Apodaca smashed a two-run homer on a cold and windy afternoon in Waco on Tuesday, backing an eight-hit performance by five pitchers and lifting the undefeated Baylor Bears to a 5-0 victory over the UTSA Roadrunners.
Carson Bailey, Caleb Bunch, Caleb Jameson, RJ Ruaix and Gabe Craig combined to strike out 12 and hold the Roadrunners to seven singles and a double. As a result, Baylor improved to 4-0 on the season as Bailey started and pitched three innings to earn the victory.
In addition, the Bears beat the Roadrunners for the first time since 2022 and snapped a two-game losing streak in the series. UTSA starting pitcher James Hubbard worked two innings, yielded one run and took the loss.
UTSA had won games in Waco each of the last two years coming into the game, which was played with wind blowing in on the hitters and temperatures in the 40s. The loss left the Roadrunners at 1-3 on the season, with all of the games played on the road.
Last weekend, the Roadrunners dropped two straight to open the season and then won the finale, 6-3, on the road Sunday against the UT Arlington Mavericks.
Scoring and hitting with runners on base have been a problem, as the Roadrunners have been held to 10 runs in four games and have been shut out twice. They left 11 on base against the Bears, including runners at second and third to end the game.
Coming up
Long Island at UTSA, Friday, 6 p.m.
Long Island at UTSA, doubleheader, noon
Long Island at UTSA, Sunday, 11 a.m.
Records
UTSA 1-3
Baylor 4-0
Notable
The UTSA brother duo of Ty and Nathan Hodge from College Station started and played shortstop and third base, respectively. Ty had two hits on the day and both committed errors in the field.
Mason Lytle, the preseason Player of the Year in the American Athletic Conference, finished two for five on the day and struck out twice.
Roadrunners right fielder James Taussig sat out the Baylor game with a hamstring injury. Taussig batted three for six in the series at UT Arlington.