Held to one run in six scoreless innings, Cal Poly rallied for four runs on four hits in the seventh but left four runners on base over the final three frames as Baylor held on for a 6-4 victory in the rubber game of a three-game non-conference baseball series Sunday afternoon inside Baggett Stadium.
In his second collegiate at-bat, Brooks Lee belted a two-run double to the gap in right-center field. Scott Ogrin followed with an RBI single to right field and Bradlee Beesley's sacrifice fly plated the fourth run of the inning.
Cal Poly had runners at second and third with two outs but a grounder to third base ended the frame. Taison Corio drew a leadoff walk in the eighth and Cole Cabrera singled with two outs in the ninth but Cal Poly could not take advantage of those opportunities.
Baylor clinched the series, two games to one, with the win and improved to 10-5 for the season. Cal Poly fell to 5-11, losing for the 10th time in their last 13 games since a 2-1 start in the MLB4 Tournament at Scottsdale, Ariz.
Baylor, which banged out 18 hits in an 8-6 victory Saturday, added 12 more Sunday, scoring two runs in the first, one in the third and three in the seventh for its 6-0 lead.
Starter Hayden Kettler (3-1) tossed six scoreless innings of one-hit baseball before tiring in the seventh when Cal Poly scored its four runs. Kettler walked one and struck out seven for the win and Luke Boyd pitched the ninth for his sixth save.
The loss went to freshman right-hander Drew Thorpe (1-1), who gave up six runs and 10 hits over 6 2/3 innings with one walk and four strikeouts. Senior righty Craig Colen secured the final seven outs without giving up a run, allowing one hit with two strikeouts.
Baylor first baseman Chase Wehsener paced the Bears' offensive attack with two singles and a double. Center fielder Jared McKenzie added two singles, giving him eight hits for the series, and right fielder Davion Downey and second baseman Kyle Nevin each added two hits.
Grounders to second base by Loftin and Andy Thomas gave Baylor a 2-0 lead in the first. Loftin's sacrifice fly behind first base in foul territory made it 3-0 in the third and the Bears added three runs in the seventh on a wild pitch, an RBI double by Mack Mueller and a run-scoring single by Downey.
Cal Poly's six hits were by six different players. Lee's double was the lone extra-base hit for the Mustangs.
Designated hitter Blake Wagenseller went 4-for-9 in the series. First baseman Tate Samuelson and catcher Myles Emmerson both were 4-for-13 while Cabrera was 3-for-9 as Cal Poly hit .250 in the series. Baylor hit .320.
Cal Poly plays a midweek game Tuesday at Pepperdine before returning home to host Oklahoma for four single games Thursday through Sunday inside Baggett Stadium.
-Provided by Cal Poly
