Strong Pitching Guides Baylor Baseball to 4-1 Win - kcentv.com - KCEN HD - Waco, Temple, and Killeen

HUNTSVILLE, Texas – An impressive pitching performance by starter Sterling Wynn and reliever Josh Michalec paced Baylor to a 4-1 win over Sam Houston State on Wednesday evening at Don Sanders Stadium.  The Bears (10-12) duo combined for 8.2 innings, allowing one run on seven hits and two walks with seven strikeouts against the Bearkats (10-10).

In the best start of his rookie season, Wynn allowed a leadoff double to Ryan Farney and single to Luke Plucheck to start the game, but served up a huge 6-4-3 double play.  The play scored a run, however, cleared the bases and got Wynn in rhythm as he struck out Ryan O'Hearn before following with three scoreless frames.  His four-inning effort was a season-long as he surrendered just the run along with four hits and a walk while striking out three.

Michalec entered the game in the fifth and kept SHSU scoreless in 4.2 innings to allow the offense to get going.  In a career-long outing, Michalec (2-1) picked up his second career win, giving up just three hits and a walk with four strikeouts.

"I thought Sterling Wynn gave us four really, really good innings," said BU Head Coach Steve Smith.  "He only gave us one base on balls and Josh didn't have one there until the ninth.  Between the two of them they ate up 8.2 innings with two base on balls and threw really well tonight."

Baylor took the lead in the sixth on three straight hits.  Logan Brown started the rally with a one-out single and moved up on a Lawton Langford singled.  Then Nathan Orf came through with a clutch two-run double to left-center.

"We hadn't had an RBI double in awhile, at least it feels that way," Smith said.  "The guys at the top, between Brown, Langford and Orf, had good at-bats.  I thought tonight, in terms of how we played, was one of the better games we've played this year.  Our identity as a club has to be throwing strikes, playing defense and competing at the plate.  We don't have the type of team to overcome any shortcomings in those areas.  Tonight, we were [that identity]."

The Bears added to the lead in the seventh and eighth innings.  Brown scored a run with a fielder's choice in the seventh and Adam Toth brought the eighth inning run in on a sacrifice fly.

With the game seemingly in hand, SHSU mounted a late rally in the ninth with a two-out walk and single off Michalec.  But Ryan Smith came in and induced a lineout to right to end it, picking up his fourth save.

BU's first four hitters combined to go 6-for-18 with three RBI and runs scored.  Brown and Langford led the way by going 2-for-5 apiece.  Orf and Cal Towey each went 1-for-4 with doubles.

Baylor begins Big 12 play this weekend at Oklahoma State as the Bears continue of stretch five straight games on the road.