Jayhawks Walk Off with Second-Straight Win Over No. 19 Baylor, 4-3

April 2, 2011

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

Box Score in PDF Format

Postgame Interviews:Coach Price | Macias | Lytle

Kansas senior shortstop Brandon Macias drew a bases loaded walk in the bottom of the ninth inning to force home the winning run as the Jayhawks tipped No. 19 Baylor, 4-3, to take a second-straight game from the Bears Saturday afternoon at Hoglund Ballpark.

The Jayhawks win their second Big 12 series of the season and improve to 12-14 overall and 4-4 in Big 12 play. Baylor drops to 16-12 overall and 3-5 in conference action. The last time Kansas defeated a ranked opponent in back-to-back days was in 2009, when it took the final two games of the season against then-No. 11 Kansas State.

With the score tied at three in the bottom of the ninth, Macias coaxed a bases loaded walk to bring in the winning run. The walk was the third of the inning surrendered by the Baylor bullpen.

Kaiana Eldredge opened the inning by drawing a hit by pitch and moved to second on a sacrifice by Jason Brunansky. After Casey Lytle drew a base on balls, a wild pitch put runners on second and third and forced the Bears to intentionally walk left fielder Jimmy Waters, which set the stage for Macias, who ended the see-saw affair with a six-pitch at bat.

KU relief pitcher Wally Marciel earned his team-leading fourth victory of the season by finishing the top of the ninth after senior Scott Heitshusen retired the first two in the inning.

The Jayhawks got on the board first with a two-out solo home run by catcher Alex DeLeon to left field. DeLeon’s blast was his third of the season and gave KU a 1-0 lead after two.

Baylor tied the game in top half of the third on a stolen base and an error.

The score remained tied until the bottom of the fifth when, with two outs, Kansas center fielder Jason Brunansky singled to right. Brunansky would score the go ahead run on Casey Lytle’s double to left center field. It was one of three hits on the day for the Jayhawk right fielder.

Baylor catcher Josh Lundy doubled home two runs against relief pitcher Frank Duncan to give BU a 3-2 lead.

However, after allowing the two inherited runners to score, Duncan pitched 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.

Ritch Price’s crew would fight back in the bottom of the fifth. After a single by Macias, designated hitter Chris Manship knotted the game at three with a two-out single to left which scored Macias.

The Jayhawks had a chance to take the lead in the bottom of the eight with a walk to Alex DeLeon and a hit by pitch by Zac Elgie. With runners at first and second and one out Chris Manship lined a bullet to left center, but a leaping grab by BU shortstop Landis Ware took a way a hit from Mansfield and doubled up DeLeon at second.

Jayhawk starting pitcher Tanner Poppe took a no-decision after going 5 1/3 innings and allowing three runs on four hits with four walks and five strikeouts.

Lytle led the Kansas offense, going 3-for-4 one day after snapping a 13-game hitting streak. DeLeon also had two hits for the Jayhawks.

Kansas will look to sweep the series with Baylor as they finish off the three-game set Sunday at Hoglund Ballpark. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.