Anna Sivadasan
Staff Writer
Coming into their game against the UH baseball team, the No. 16-ranked Baylor Bears had hit 100 homers and stolen 90 bases this season.
On Tuesday night at Cougar Field, the Bears utilized their two best assets, power and speed, along with the outstanding pitching of Sugarland native Kip Wells (11-4) to beat UH 7-2.
The Bears scored three runs on four hits in the eighth inning to break open a 4-1 game. Left fielder Bryan Loeb laid down a bunt for a hit and was sacrificed to second by shortstop Preston Underdown.
After two outs, Baylor hit three consecutive singles. Second baseman Eric Nelson and first baseman Charles Carter both had RBI hits in the frame.
Earlier in the fourth inning, the Bears used their home run power to build a 3-1 lead. UH starter Kris Wilken (1-3) was solid for the first three innings, not giving up a hit and striking out three, but the freshman made one costly mistake in the fourth inning.
Wilken hit right fielder Jeremy Dodson, and a batter later on a full-count pitch, Carter hit his 19th homer of the season.
"It was a hanging curveball," Wilken said. "I just left it up, and he was sitting on it and hit it hard. I'm not really used to going that long, and I came out in the fourth inning a little tired."
The Bears added another run in the inning on a bases loaded double-play ball off the bat of Loeb.
Wells kept the Houston hitters off balance, pitching seven strong innings of one-run ball while striking out six and walking three.
"He used his curveball really well," UH right fielder Eric Lee said. "He really sets hitters up with his off-speed pitches."
The Cougars did have their opportunities against the Baylor junior right-hander. Trailing 4-1 in the seventh inning, UH threatened to rally. Second baseman Sean Allen walked and shortstop Shaun Skrehot and left fielder Brandon Caraway followed with back-to-back singles to load the bases with one out.
However, Wells seemed to get tougher, striking out center fielder Mike Medrano on a 1-2 pitch and inducing a grounder from designated hitter Bruce Rios.The Cougars left nine men on base for the game.
"To beat pitchers like that caliber, you have to have timely hitting," Caraway said. "He's a really good pitcher. He threw every pitch whenever he wanted."
UH's two runs were on a RBI single from Robert Dieudonne in the second and a solo homer from Jarrod Bitter in the eighth. The Cougars (27-22) will next host the Sam Houston State Bearkats at 7 p.m. today at Cougar Field.