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No break for baseball this spring Break

March 18, 2008

David Poe/Lariat staff Dallas senior Nick Cassavechia winds up for a pitch in the game against Louisiana Tech University on March 5 at the Baylor Ballpark. Baylor won, 7-6.

By Brian Bateman
Sports writer

While Baylor students spanned the continent for spring break, the Baylor baseball team played eight games in eight days.

Baseball America's No. 14 Baylor (14-3, 2-1) swept Mississippi State University before losing both games against Oral Roberts University in Tulsa.

"They swung the bat," head coach Steve Smith said. "We played very good defensively, but we just didn't get effective pitching."

Then the Bears started Big 12 play against the Oklahoma State University Cowboys, dropping the Friday game 6-5, and winning the latter two 3-0 and 8-5.

Friday, Baylor held a one-run lead going into the final inning before Matt Hague and Rebel Ridling sent the ball over the outfield wall for a 6-5 Cowboys victory.

Baylor did get a good bit of news before Friday, however, as injured sophomore Raynor Campbell returned to pinch hit in two games over the weekend series.

"The doctor cleared me on Thursday. I really wasn't expecting it," Campbell said. "On the other hand, the only way I'm going to get better is to get some batting practice."

Campbell injured his thumb in preseason, which required surgery.

"(The brace is) coming off in another three weeks," he said, but added that it isn't affecting his swing.

Campbell played in both the Saturday and Sunday games, but failed to earn a single hit on six attempts. However, he replaced center fielder Paul Miles instead of true freshman and second baseman Landis Ware.

Smith noted that Ware's performance combined with Campbell's versatility would probably keep Ware at second and Campbell in the outfield.

"There's not an easy way to do what we're going to do with Raynor (Campbell)," Smith said. "He's going to have to get going a little bit. Landis Ware has done such a good job at second base that I tried to find a place on the field for Raynor and center field seemed to be the place."

Miles currently sports a .220 average and has no home runs on six RBIs.

Saturday ended the three-game skid for the Bears, as redshirt freshman Shawn Tolleson threw a complete-game, two-hit shutout.

"I've known Shawn for a long time. That's the Shawn I remember," Aaron Miller said of Tolleson, who he faced throughout his high school career.

The right-handed pitcher allowed just two walks and struck out six in his performance.

"I think for the first time this year I was able to throw my fastball where I wanted to," Tolleson, who earned Big 12 player of the week, said.

Dustin Dickerson rattled off a three-run homer in the fifth to separate the tied participants. Jordy Mercer would cut the Baylor lead to two with his long ball, but Beamer Weems answered for his second home run of the season.

Weather permitting, the Bears will face Sam Houston State University (12-6) at 6:30 p.m. today at the Baylor Ballpark.

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