Baylor Baseball Blanked by UCF in Series Opener, 8-0

WACO, Texas – Baylor baseball (25-24, 11-14) extended its losing streak to three games with an 8-0 shutout defeat to UCF (28-18, 16-9) in the series opener on Friday night at Baylor Ballpark.

The Bears were out-hit in the contest, 12-to-5, and were 2-for-15 at the plate (.133) with runners on base. Brytton Clements (RFr.) was the lone BU batter to tally two base knocks — it was his 11th multi-hit game of the season.

Coming off his complete game last weekend, right-handed pitcher Lucas Davenport (RJr.) wasn’t able to build on the momentum and surrendered six hits and seven earned runs across four frames.

“Tonight didn’t go the way that we wanted — there’s no question about that,” head coach Mitch Thompson said post-game. “We’re going to have to swing the bats and score to win. We had traffic on, but we didn’t get the hits to even crack the door, and that’s the frustrating part.”

After UCF posted a three-spot in the top of the second, Davenport appeared to work around a fourth-inning jam, except the home plate umpire had a blatant missed strike-three call, extending the inning as Davenport issued a walk to the nine-hole batter to load the bases.

The Knights proceeded to make the Bears pay with back-to-back two-run singles from center fielder DeAmez Ross (RSr.) and left fielder John Smith III (Sr.); the Knights were 9-for-23 (.391) with runners on.

“The game got away from us in the fourth when I thought we were out of the inning,” Thompson said. “I thought we made pitches to get out of the inning, but we didn’t get calls, and it didn’t work out. Then they hit two ground balls that were perfectly placed, and they weren’t hit exceptionally hard. Then it blows the game open from being 3-0 to 7-0.”

Thompson continued, “That’s the frustrating part. It went from real quick thinking you’re in it to thinking you’re out of it. We’ve got to be better, and we’ve got to be tougher there, but we’ve got to score.”

Davenport was chased out of the contest after four frames, and UCF added another run in the fifth inning off righty reliever Charlie Atkinson (Jr.), but it was unearned due to a passed ball from catcher Brayden Buchanan (RSo.), allowing both runners to advance. Atkinson settled in and didn’t surrender a run in either the sixth or seventh innings.

On the opposite mound, UCF’s soft-throwing starter, Mateo Gray (So.), had the Bears off balance all night at the plate, as he only punched out one batter but induced a lot of weak contact, allowing just four base knocks across 4.1 frames.

“That was really different; that’s not who he’s been all year, so I’m not sure what was going on there,” Thompson said. “That’s a 91-92 miles per hour arm with some sink, and I don’t know what the deal is. He was throwing 82-83. We didn’t hit it, and we got behind. I give him credit. He got outs.”

The Knights then went to right Max Murray (Fr.), who had similar success against Baylor’s batting order, with 2.1 scoreless innings and five strikeouts.

Final: UCF 8, Baylor 0

W: Max Murray (4-2) L: Lucas Davenport (5-3)

POTG: Brytton Clements (2-for-4)

What’s Next

The Bears (25-24, 11-14) will continue their series against UCF (28-18, 16-9) at 2 p.m. CT on Saturday, May 9, at Baylor Ballpark. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.