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Rogers working out with Pacers
Baylor basketball player Kevin Rogers is trying to attract some NBA interest ahead of next week’s draft. Here’s an Associated Press note about players coming in to work out with the Indiana Pacers.
North Carolina’s Tyler Hansbrough and Duke’s Gerald Henderson headline the next batch of players coming to Indianapolis for predraft workouts.
Hansbrough was on the Tar Heels’ national championship winning team last season. He finished his career as the ACC’s career scoring leader.
Henderson was a third-team All-American and left school after his junior season.
Four other players will also be in town. They are Cedric Jackson of Cleveland State, Kevin Rogers of Baylor, Anthony Smith of Liberty and Scott VanderMeer of Illinois-Chicago.
The Pacers have the 13th overall pick in Thursday’s NBA draft.
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Baylor-Minnesota baseball — NCAA regional
4:37 p.m. — Minnesota wins 15-12, and will advance to play LSU in the championship round in approximately 90 minutes. Booker delivered an RBI single for his fourth hit of the day in his final game as a Bear, but Drew Bias grounded to second for the final out. Baylor wraps up its season at 30-26.
4:34 p.m. — Miller and Dan Evatt both ground out, and Baylor is down to its final out. Ben Booker will bat.
4:29 p.m. — Lubinsky’s day is done, as Shaver Hansen singles for Baylor’s seventh — yes, seventh — consecutive hit of the inning. Luke Rasmussen will come in to pitch for Minnesota to face Aaron Miller with no outs and Hansen on first. The score is 15-11, Minnesota. Miller, by the way, is hitless for the weekend.
4:26 p.m. — Holy moly, the Bears aren’t dead yet. After Dustin Dickerson delivers an RBI single, Kenton Gedwed follows by cranking his 10th pinch hit — and first home run — of the season, a grand slam that brings the score to 15-11, Minnesota. There are still no outs. Lubinsky will remain in the game.
4:21 p.m. — Will if the Bears want to stage a “Miracle on the Mississippi,” they’ve started the right way, opening the ninth with four straight base hits off Handran, finally chasing the Gopher starter from the game. That included a double from Ben Booker, an RBI single from pinch hitter Drew Bias, a single from Brooks Kimmey, and a single from pinch hitter Adam Hornung. Minnesota’s Austin Lubinsky will enter the game, trying to preserve the Gophers’ now 15-6 lead.
4:14 p.m. — Kvasnicka grounds out for Minnesota, but the Gophers add two more when Knudson punches a ground ball to Campbell, and the ball gets by the BU third baseman for a two-run error. Blank finally puts an end to Minnesota’s second straight five-run inning by striking out Nick O’Shea. Baylor will enter the ninth needing a miracle 10-run rally, as the Bears trail, 15-5. The Bears’ season is almost certainly over.
4:04 p.m. — BU’s pitching has petered out here in the latter innings. Speed gives up a pair of infield singles and a walk to load the bases, then walks Petterson with no place to put him to force in a run. McCallum follows with a double to left to plate two more runs and extend the Gopher lead to 13-5. Trent Blank will come on to try to stop the bleeding for Baylor. There is still only one out and runners on second and third, so it could potentially get worse for the Bears. Remember, this was a 5-2 Baylor lead with two outs in the seventh. My, how things have changed.
3:52 p.m. — Handran retires the meat of BU’s batting order — Hansen, Miller and Evatt — with little difficulty in the eighth, including stirkeouts of Hansen and Miller, who are a combined 0-for-6 with a pair of walks today. Minnesota maintains its 10-5 lead going to the top of the ninth.
3:46 p.m. — The Gophers take control with a big five-run eighth inning. Speed gets a ground ball out from Kvasnicka, but then Knudson lofts a two-run single to left to extend the lead to 10-5. Baylor is going to have to swing the bats to get back in it, as they’ve got six outs left.
3:43 p.m. — Minnesota has gone out in front 8-5, as Pinckard will be pulled without recording an out. The first batter Pinckard faced, Nohelty, hit a ground ball to Dan Evatt at first, then made it safely to first on an infield hit when Pinckard was late covering the bag. A.J. Petterson followed with an RBI single to center to untie the game, and then Derek McCallum crushed a deep two-run double over the head of Don Lambert in center field. McCallum could have probably had a triple on the hit, but had to hold up because Petterson had stopped to see if Lambert might catch the ball. Ross Speed is on to try to get Baylor out of the inning, as there is still just one out.
3:35 p.m. — We’ve got further medical issues before the game will resume, as Baylor’s trainers are now working on the legs of BU catcher Gregg Glime, who will limp to the dugout with what appears to be severe cramps. Brooks Kimmey will replace Glime, giving Baylor an all-Brooks battery, as Larry Little just pointed out.
3:31 p.m. — We’ve got a bit of a delay here, as trainers are attending to Minnesota’s Kyle Geason. After issuing a one-out walk to Gominsky, Woytek hit Geason with a face-high fastball that appeared on TV replays to glance off Geason’s nose. After waiting for a while while Geason was getting worked on, Steve Smith eventually opted to go to the bullpen, bringing in Brooks Pinckard with one out and two on.
3:22 p.m. — Raynor Campbell leads off with a well-struck single to left, but Baylor isn’t able to bring him around. Dickerson and Hainsfurther both fly out, and then Campbell is gunned down by Minnesota catcher Kyle Knudson trying to steal second for the third out. The game is still tied at 5 as we enter the eighth.
3:10 p.m. — It’s a shaky start for Woytek, as he hits the first batter he sees on his first pitch. But he gets out of the inning by forcing a grounder from Nick O’Shea. The game is all squared at 5-5 again. (A moment ago, I incorrectly posted 5-4, but I’ve changed that). It’s 5-5 heading to the bottom of the seventh.
3:05 p.m. — Ringenberg’s day has come to a close, as Minnesota has pulled to within 5-5. After recording two outs to open the inning, Petterson singled for Minnesota and then McCallum dropped in a bloop double just inside the left-field line. McCallum moved to third when Ben Booker bobbled the ball into the stands trying to scoop it up. Kvasnicka followed with a soaring two-run home run over the fence in right-center. Reed Woytek is on to pitch for the Bears.
2:54 p.m. — Baylor’s Booker, Lambert and Glime go down quickly to Handran in the sixth. Minnesota will try to cut into Baylor’s lead in the seventh, trailing 5-2.
2:49 p.m. — Ringenberg just keeps rolling along, allowing only a two-out baserunner on a hit-by-pitch before striking out Gominsky for the third time today. Baylor’s starting pitching this weekend has combined for these rock-solid numbers: 16 innings, 13 hits, 3 earned runs, 16 strikeouts, four walks. Baylor continues to hold a 5-2 lead heading to the bottom of the sixth.
2:41 p.m. — Baylor is unable to add to its lead in the fifth, as Dan Evatt strikes out with two down and a runner on first. The Bears hold a 5-2 edge going to the sixth. By the way, the crowd has been announced as 1,639 for this game. Expect about 8,000 more to show up about three hours from now.
2:32 p.m. — Minnesota strands a runner at third, and Baylor maintains its three-run lead. Petterson dropped in a one-out single, then moved to second on a wild pitch and to third on a groundout. But Ringenberg delivers again, coming up with a clutch strikeout of Gopher cleanup hitter Michael Kvasnicka to keep the score at 5-2, Baylor, heading to the bottom of the fifth.
2:19 p.m. — And the Bears are out in front for the first time today. After a flyout from Aaron Miller to open the inning, Baylor bangs out four straight hits off of Handran. That included a two-run single from Don Lambert, who was batting just a buck-83 entering the game. Gregg Glime, who’s had clutch hits in each of the three games of the tourney now, followed by tagging a deep double to the gap in right-center to score Lambert. Baylor now leads 5-2 after four innings of play.
2:09 p.m. — Ringenberg is giving Baylor what it needs right now: Innings, and good ones at that. After a leadoff flare single by Nick O’Shea, Ringenberg strikes out the next two batters and then gets a pop fly to the outfield. The five strikeouts Ringenberg has tallied are a career high. It’s 2-2 going into the bottom of the fourth.
2:00 p.m. — Three up, three down for the Bears, as Handran has retired six in a row for the Gophers. Dustin Dickerson and Shaver Hansen both struck out in that inning. It’s still 2-2 after three complete innings.
1:53 p.m. — Ringenberg gets a clean 1-2-3 third, as the Gophers manage three straight ground ball outs. Baylor will head to the bottom of the third, trying to unbreak a 2-2 tie.
1:49 p.m. — The Bears go down in order against Minnesota righty Chauncy Handran in the second, closed out by a nice play from Minnesota shortstop Petterson to close the inning. Petterson went deep into the hole to field a sharp grounder off the bat of Raynor Campbell, then righted himself and made a long throw to first to beat Campbell by two steps. The score remains tied at 2 through two innings.
1:43 p.m. — Ringenberg starts out the second inning in style, striking out Minnesota’s Eric Decker and Justin Gominsky before things get a little dicey. Kyle Geason singles and then Matt Nohelty pops a high fly to shallow left that falls in for a double between BU’s Ben Booker, Shaver Hansen and Don Lambert due to an apparent lack of communication. But Ringenberg escapes by inducing a come-backer to Petterson for the third out. Score: 2-2 heading to the bottom of the second.
1:33 p.m. — Baylor knots the game back up, loading the bases with two outs on a Dustin Dickerson single, a Shaver Hansen walk and a Dan Evatt hit-by-pitch. Then BU senior Ben Booker delivers a clutch bloop single to right to score Dickerson and Hansen, bringing the score to 2-2 after a looooooong first inning.
1:14 p.m. — For the first time this weekend, Baylor has not opened a game with a flourish. The Gophers strike first blood, as A.J. Petterson reaches with one out on an error from Shaver Hansen and then Derek McCallum absolutely crushes a two-run home run over the right-field fence. There was no doubt about it as soon as it left McCallum’s bat. Baylor had another defensive miscue (though not an error) on a sharp liner to right from Michael Kvasnicka, as Aaron Miller charged in and tried to make a diving stop, but the ball bounced under his glove and rolled to the fence for a triple. Fortunately for Baylor, Ringenberg retired the next two batters to get out without further incident. Score: 2-0, Gophers, after a half-inning.
1:03 p.m. — First pitch is moments away. Baylor will be the home team for this game, and is wearing its white uniforms for the first time this weekend after a couple of pretty good games in black. Jon Ringenberg draws his sixth start of the season in a must-win situation for the Bears. Like most of Baylor’s pitchers, Ringenberg has had mixed results, as he has a 2-0 record with a 5.76 ERA in 29.2 innings.
12:57 p.m. — The crowd is as slim as it’s been so far this weekend at Alex Box Stadium, but that’s not really that surprising, given that it’s a Sunday afternoon game and LSU isn’t playing until 6. I would be surprised if the crowd for the late game tonight wasn’t similar to the school-record attendance of 9.124 who packed this place last night.
12:51 p.m. — Bonjour from Baton Rouge once again, baseball backers. We’re about 10 minutes away from Baylor and Minnesota playing for the right to move on and play LSU later today. Despite the terrific game that Baylor and LSU staged last night, most of the buzz in the press box today has been around the epic game that Texas and Boston College played last night, or rather this morning. And none of us were even there. But a 25-inning game? 12-and-a-third of no-hit ball from Austin Wood? Absolutely incredible.
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Baylor-LSU baseball - NCAA regional
9:20 p.m. — Ball game, as a gritty effort by the Bears comes up short. LSU’s Ott retires the side in the 10th, and the Tigers win, 3-2. Baylor will play Minnesota at 1 p.m. Sunday in an elimination game, with the winner moving on to face the Tigers at 6 p.m. If LSU wins that game, it’ll take the regional. If the Tigers lose that game to either Baylor or Minnesota, a final championship game would be played Monday.
9:13 p.m. — The Tigers seize the lead. Volz gives up one-out walks to Jared Mitchell and D.J. LeMahieu, and then pinch hitter Sean Ochinko belts a grounder that Shaver Hansen dives to stop and keep in the infield. However, Hansen’s flip attempt to Hainsfurther covering second is too high. That sets the stage for Austin Nola, who bangs a single back up the middle for a big-time RBI. Volz gets the next two outs to get out of the inning without further damage, but Baylor will have some work to do against LSU closer Matty Ott in the bottom of the 10th, trailing 3-2.
8:55 p.m. — However this game turns out, Anthony Ranaudo has pitched a humdinger. We’re headed to extra innings here at Alex Box Stadium tied at 2, thanks to Ranaudo striking out the side, giving him a whopping 14 Ks for the game. To have the kind of velocity he did in the ninth inning — Baylor’s batters were consistently late on their swings — is very, very impressive.
8:46 p.m. — Baylor will go the bottom of the ninth with a chance to unbreak the tie and win the game. Volz works out of a jam in the top of the ninth, following up two groundouts with a pair of walks. But he finally ends the inning by getting his Team USA teammate Micah Gibbs from last summer to ground out 3-to-1, with Volz covering first. It’s 2-2 heading to money time.
8:34 p.m. — I said it was going to be a fun finish, didn’t I? This place is electric right now. Baylor manages to tie the game, as pinch hitter Brooks Pinckard opens the inning with a walk, then moves to second on a sacrifice bunt from Gregg Glime, and to third on a Raynor Campbell groundout. Despite a raucous crowd cheering Ranaudo on, Dustin Dickerson patiently draws a walk of his own, and then Joey Hainsfurther comes through with a high chopper that LSU third baseman Tyler Hanover bobbles for an error, allowing Pinckard to score. It’s 2-2 heading to the ninth.
8:19 p.m. — Volz does his job to get out of the inning. On his first pitch, LSU’s Jared Mitchell skies a towering pop up on the infield that Shaver Hansen squeezes behind the mound. A Joey Hainsfurther error, BU’s first of the game, loads the bases, but Volz strikes out Tyler Hanover with a nasty bender to escape unscathed. The score remains 2-1 Tigers going into the bottom of the eighth.
8:11 p.m. — Miller’s outing is over, as Volz will come into the game for Baylor. After getting a flyout from the leadoff batter, Miller walked Micah Gibbs, and then Mikie Mahtook slapped a sharp grounder that Shaver Hansen managed to knock down with a dive at shortstop, but it was clearly an infield hit. By the way, the crowd total is 9,149, an LSU school record. Those are actual butts in the seats.
8:05 p.m. — Wow. Ranaudo steps up big-time in the bottom of the seventh, fanning Miller, Booker and pinch-hitter Kenton Gedwed to ignite the raucous LSU home crowd. The cries of “LSU, LSU!” following Ranaudo’s third strikeout could be heard from Lafayette, I imagine. LSU takes a 2-1 lead into the eighth inning, and we should be in for a fun finish.
7:57 p.m. — Miller has pitched well, as he retires the side in order in the top of the seventh. BU’s only left-handed arm, Miller has six Ks in three innings. That said, as good as he’s pitched, I’d be surprised not to see Baylor bring in Kendal Volz in the eighth. Volz has been warming up the last couple of innings, and Smith said in yesterday’s press conference that “I’m not saving him for Sunday.” I certainly think he probably wouldn’t, given how close the game is. LSU leads 2-1 heading to BU’s half of the seventh.
7:53 p.m. — The fans are being entertained with John Denver’s “Thank God I’m a Country Boy” over the P.A. system. I half-expected to see Pauly Shore doing donuts across the outfield in a combine. (Slightly obscure movie reference).
7:52 p.m. — There won’t be a shutout tonight, as the Bears are on the board thanks to Gregg Glime. BU’s catcher picked an opportune time to crank his third home run of the season, as he led off by curling a solo blast just inside the right-field foul pole. Three batters later, Joey Hainsfurther smacks an infield single, followed by a long fly to the warning track from Shaver Hansen for the third out. Perhaps the Bears are getting to Ranaudo? At any rate, BU has trimmed LSU’s lead to 2-1 after six innings.
7:44 p.m. — Miller works his way out of trouble again. After Jared Mitchell slapped a sharp one-out single and then swiped second on a bang-bang play for his 31st stolen base of the season, Miller struck out D.J. LeMahieu and got Tyler Hanover to ground out to end the inning. Baylor will come up to plate in the bottom of the sixth, still trailing 2-0.
7:39 p.m. — The official scorer has announced a clarification to the play in the second inning where Booker was ruled out when Adam Hornung was judged to have interfered with the catcher. Normally, the hitter would be out on catcher’s interference, but apparently because Hornung struck out on the pitch, the runner was deemed out instead. Check your rulebooks on that one.
7:36 p.m. — Ranaudo again has no problem with the Baylor lineup, setting down Booker, Hornung and Lambert in order. The Bears remain in the game, trailing 2-0 after five, but they’re going to have to get something going offensively if they want to win.
7:30 p.m. — Pretty good stuff from Aaron Miller in the fifth. Things didn’t start so well for the BU southpaw, who gave up a hit to Austin Nola and a walk from Leon Landry to open the inning and draw a visit from Steve Smith. But Miller found his rhythm after that, striking out Ryan Schimpf, Blake Dean and Micah Gibbs to close out the inning. (Those guys are LSU’s 2-3-4 hitters). The Baylor fan contingent is (obviously) outnumbered here at Alex Box Stadium, but they made a fair amount of noise after that impressive show. Score: LSU 2-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth.
7:16 p.m. — Ranaudo is proving filthier than a Bourbon Street burlesque house. (Not that I’d know, mind you). Joey Hainsfurther gives the Bears their second baserunner of the game with a one-out walk, but Ranaudo fans Shaver Hansen and Aaron Miller to close the book on Baylor in the inning. The Bears still have just one hit. Miller is coming on to pitch now for the Bears, who trail 2-0 after four.
7:07 p.m. — The Tigers plated one run, but it could have been a lot worse, as Baylor took advantage of some boneheaded LSU baserunning to avoid further damage. With no outs, D.J. LeMahieu grounded the ball to Shaver Hansen at short, who calmly threw to third for the force on Mikie Mahtook. Inexplicably, Mahtook was going back toward second base. He’d likely have been out anyway, but it made the play even easier. Then a few moments later, Tolleson got a significant pickoff of Jared Mitchell at second base for out No. 2. A come-backer ended the inning, with the Tigers now up 2-0.
7:01 p.m. — We’ve got a developing situation here, as LSU has loaded the bases with a pair of singles and a walk off of Tolleson. BU coach Steve Smith came out to the mound to talk things over with Tolleson, but didn’t pull him — yet. Aaron Miller, who started at DH tonight rather than right field, is hastily working in the Baylor bullpen.
6:54 p.m. — Ranaudo, by the way, has five strikeouts so far tonight, giving him 129 in 96 innings for the season. Yeah, this kid can pitch a little.
6:51 p.m. — LSU’s Ranaudo has faced the minimum nine batters through three innings, as he strikes out Don Lambert and Gregg Glime before inducing a pop-up from Raynor Campbell. The Bears trail 1-0 after three complete innings.
6:43 p.m. — Baylor’s Tolleson unwinds himself out of the first real jam he’s faced in the top of the third. With runners on the corners and two outs, Tolleson comes up with a big strikeout of LSU No. 3 hitter Blake Dean to survive. The score remains 1-0 LSU as we head to the bottom of the third.
6:31 p.m. — Kind of an unsual bottom of the second for the Bears. Ben Booker pokes a one-out single through the infield for BU’s first hit. But then the inning ends on a double play when Adam Hornung strikes out on a Booker steal attempt, then walks in front of the LSU catcher, and is called for interference. Thus, Booker is out. BU coach Steve Smith came out of the dugout to talk about the play with the home plate ump. I’ll have to ask about the play after the game. It’s still 1-0, LSU, through two innings.
6:22 p.m. — LSU rightfielder Jared Mitchell and the Tigers strike first, as Mitchell turns on a 2-2 offering from Tolleson and parks it over the right-field fence for his ninth home run of the season. LSU takes a 1-0 lead after 1.5 innings. Yes, Baylor is indeed the “home” team for this game, even though it’s the Tigers’ park.
6:14 p.m. — LSU righty Anthony Ranaudo matches Tolleson with a 1-2-3 frame of his own, including strikeouts of Dustin Dickerson and Hainsfurther. It’s scoreless after one inning.
6:07 p.m. — Just like Friday, Baylor opens with a fine top of the first. Joey Hainsfurther made a sweet backhanded scoop and leaping throw to first on a roller from the speedy Leon Landry for the first out. Then Shawn Tolleson recorded a strikeout and a flyout for a 1-2-3 frame. No score after a half-inning.
6:03 p.m. — First pitch is imminent, but just wanted to bring you a word about the crowd. It’s a big’un. If it’s not a sellout here at “the Box,” it’s very close. I can only spot a few empty seats here and there. There were plenty of LSU fans outside the park begging for tickets, too.
5:58 p.m. — Hello again, baseball fans. As the strains of Garth Brooks’ “Calling Baton Rouge” fade out, that signals that baseball is about to begin here in Bayou Country. I’ll be along to bring it to you faithful Web followers.
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Baylor-Minnesota baseball - NCAA regional
8:38 p.m. — Baylor defeats Minnesota, 5-0, as Verrett strikes out the side in impressive fashion. It’s a three-pitcher shutout for the Bears, the first since that aforementioned 19-0 win over Missouri on April 11. Baylor will play LSU at 6 p.m. Saturday in the “winner’s bracket” of the regional.
8:32 p.m. — Dickerson drops in a one-out single for the Bears, but they can’t bring him around. Still, they’ll take a comfortable 5-0 lead into the bottom of the ninth. Logan Verrett will try to close it out for Baylor.
8:24 p.m. — It got a little dicey, but Fritsch comes up big to keep the shutout bid alive. Kyle Geason smacked a one-out single for the Gophers, and then Matt Nohelty hit a bad-hop grounder that Hainsfurther couldn’t field, drawing a tough-luck error. But Fritsch gets A.J. Petterson to ground out, and then fools Derek McCallum on an 0-2 count, getting the slugger to pop a high foul to Glime behind the plate for the third out. Baylor will take a 5-0 lead into the ninth.
8:15 p.m. — Baylor media relations director and baseball guru Larry Little just told me that Gedwed’s nine pitch hits very well could be a school record. Before the 1980s, the record books on pinch hits are kind of sketchy.
8:13 p.m. — Brooks Pinckard takes over in center field for Don Lambert. Pinckard had been out for a couple of weeks due to a staph infection on his leg.
8:12 p.m. — Gedwed delivers in a pinch, and gives Baylor a little insurance, cranking a two-run double to the left-centerfield gap. That was Gedwed’s ninth pitch hit of the season, tops in the Big 12. The Bears take a 5-0 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth.
8:07 p.m. — Rasmussen faced just one batter, but he did his job, striking out Ben Booker looking. Scott Matyas will come in to the game to face pinch-hitter Kenton Gedwed, who is batting for the would-be pinch hitter Brooks Kimmey. You’ve got to love these games within the game by the skippers.
8:00 p.m. — There’s going to be a pitching change for Minnesota. Shaver Hansen led off the inning by crushing a deep fly off the glove of a running Decker in center field (scored a double). Then Aaron Miller walked, and Dan Evatt moved both runners up a base with a nicely-placed sacrifice bunt. Buske pitched well for the Gophers, but he stands to be the loser if the score holds up. Lefty Luke Rasmussen will take over on the hill for Minnesota.
7:56 p.m. — If you’re interested, the attendance has been announced as 3,247. That’s the actual crowd figure, which is rarely announced at games. The paid attendance (which is higher because of season ticket sales) was 9,314.
7:52 p.m. — Fritsch keeps the shutout intact, giving up only a one-out single to Kyle Knudson before retiring the next two batters to escape. Speaking of escapes, it appeared as if everyone on Baylor’s team came out free and clear after a sharply-hit foul ball off the bat of Minnesota’s Eric Decker screamed into the dugout. The Bears still lead, 3-0, through seven complete innings.
7:42 p.m. — Now seeing Buske for the third and fourth time through the order, the Bears begin to get to the Gopher righty in the top of the seventh. Gregg Glime drills a one-out double into the right-field corner, and then Raynor Campbell follows with a double of his own to the gap in right-center to chase home Glime and extend BU’s lead to 3-0. Craig Fritsch will come in to relieve Kempf, who was terrific, allowing three hits and striking out six.
7:34 p.m. — It’s been a while since Baylor has put together this crisp of a game. Minnesota’s Kyle Geason leads off with a single, but Kempf nabs him with a pickoff move, and Geason is thrown out 1-to-3-to-6-to-3, if you’re scoring at home. (Or even if you’re alone). Kempf walks A.J. Petterson on a close-call pitch on ball four. That walk prompts Steve Smith to visit the mound presumably to talk strategy on how to pitch to McCallum, but it’s no worries for the Bears, as the Gopher slugger ends the inning with a fielder’s choice grounder. Baylor continues to hold its 2-0 lead through six full innings.
7:23 p.m. — For the record, Buske isn’t pitching too bad himself. That’s five zeroes that the Minnesota right-hander has strung up after BU’s two-run first. The Bears went down in order in the top of the sixth, but still lead 2-0.
7:20 p.m. — There is still some baseball to be played, but this is easily Kempf’s best outing since April 11 against Missouri, when he struck out 12 Tigers and pitched a two-hitter in a seven-inning run-rule win by the Bears.
7:17 p.m. — Willie Kempf is a gamer. He’s rolling along, chalking up another 1-2-3 inning. He has six strikeouts through five innings, as Baylor maintains its 2-0 edge.
7:13 p.m. — Joey Hainsfurther worked a two-out walk for the Bears, but Baylor couldn’t pad its lead, as Buske struck out Hansen to close it out. Minnesota will try to cut into BU’s lead heading to the bottom of the fifth, trailing 2-0.
7:03 p.m. — Minnesota second baseman Derek McCallum, one of the top hitters in the Big Ten, gives his team a baserunner when he loops in a one-out single to left. But Kempf induces a pop foul from the next hitter, and then gets a terrific scoop-and-throw from second baseman Joey Hainsfurther on a roller up the middle for the third out. I’ve said it before, but Hainsfurther’s defense at second has been splendid over the past few weeks. Baylor holds a 2-0 lead through four complete.
6:57 p.m. — Baylor manages one baserunner in the top of the fourth, thanks to a one-out flare to center from Don Lambert. But after holding Lambert close to the bag, Buske eventually picks the BU centerfielder off, then gets a groundout from Gregg Glime to close the inning. The Bears still have a 2-0 edge going into the home half of the fourth.
6:50 p.m. — Three up, three down for Minnesota, as Kempf whiffs the first two hitters before getting a groundout to second for the third out. Kempf is pitching well through three innings, having struck out five, walked one and surrendered just one hit. Baylor leads 2-0.
6:48 p.m. — For you football fans out there, it’s pretty clear that pigskin season is on the horizon as you look out over Alex Box Stadium. Probably some 300 yards over the center field fence sits LSU’s massive Tiger Stadium. Obviously LSU has tremendous football tradition as well, as the back of the scoreboard reminds onlookers of the program’s three national championships.
6:44 p.m. — Hansen and Aaron Miller each work two-out walks off the Gophers’ Buske, but the Bears can’t add to their lead, as Dan Evatt strikes out for the third out. The score remains Baylor 2-0 through 2.5 innings.
6:34 p.m. — Kempf works his way out of a leadoff walk when Minnesota’s second hitter, catcher Kyle Knudson, rolls a tailor-made double play ball to Hansen at short. The Bears turn an easy 6-4-3 DP. Then after Nick O’Shea singles to center, Kempf fans the Gophers’ Eric Decker to escape the inning unscathed. Baylor still leads 2-0 through two innings.
6:25 p.m. — Buske retires Baylor’s Don Lambert, Gregg Glime and Raynor Campbell without issue in the top of the second. Minnesota will try to cut into Baylor’s 2-0 lead heading to the bottom of the second.
6:19 p.m. — Kempf sets down Minnesota’s Matt Nohelty, A.J. Petterson and Derek McCallum in order, striking out the final two. An efficient first frame for the BU junior right-hander. BU still leads 2-0.
6:16 p.m. — If you’re interested in the crowd, it’s a pretty good-sized one. (Official attendance number to come later). There’s a sizable contingent of purple and gold-clad LSU supporters, who stuck around for the late game after their beloved Tigers defeated Southern, 10-2, earlier today. There’s also a decent number of Baylor fans on hand.
6:11 p.m. — It’s a new season for the Bears, and it has started well. After a leadoff single from Dustin Dickerson and a fielder’s choice grounder by Joey Hainsfurther, BU shortstop Shaver Hansen smokes a Tom Buske fastball deep over the fence in right field. I’d estimate the ball landed a good 50 feet over the fence. Willie Kempf will work with a lead as the Bears head to the bottom of the first, leading 2-0.
6:02 p.m. — This stadium really is a gem. It’s got a little more of a modern feel to it, but not necessarily in a bad way. There’s a huge overhang over the grandstand that provides a lot of shade for the fans, and a pretty massive high-def scoreboard over the left-field bleachers.
5:59 p.m. — Speaking of rides (or rather drives), I had a nice long 8-hour one from Waco today. Actually, I could have made better time had it not been for a 45-minute delay east of Beaumont on I-10. Make note of that construction-related delay if you’re a Baylor fan heading this way.
5:57 p.m. — Bonjour, baseball afficianados. Hello from Baton Rouge. I’m back to bring you periodic updates of Baylor’s NCAA regional opener against Minnesota here at LSU’s gorgeous new Alex Box Stadium. Thanks for coming along for the ride.
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Michigan rolls past BU, 7-1, to win Super Regional
3:49 p.m.: Jordan Taylor threw a five-hitter and collected 13 strikeouts as Michigan romped to a 7-1 win to complete a two-game sweep of Baylor to win the Super Regional and advance to the World Series.
3:31 p.m.: Bree Hanafin singles and Brette Reagan walks, but Taylor strikes out Alex Colyer and Courtney Oberg to get out of the jam in the sixth.
3:13 p.m.: Taylor strikes out the side in the bottom of the fifth.
2:48 p.m.: Michigan adds three more runs in the fourth as Findlay hit a two-run double off reliever Brittany Turner and St. Clair pushed across a run with a squeeze bunt.
2:33 p.m. Baylor coach Glenn Moore said in ESPN interview before the top of the fourth that he didn’t start Whitney Canion because pain is shooting through her arm and she couldn’t go.
2:22 p.m.: Michigan batted around and scored four runs on five hits off Brock in the top of the third. Angela Findlay and Roya St. Clair ripped run-scoring doubles while Nikki Nemitz ripped a two-run double.
2:02 p.m.: Courtney Oberg hits a solo homer over the left-field fence with one out in the second to give Baylor a 1-0 lead.
1:45 p.m.: Both Baylor and Michigan went down in order in the first inning of the second game of the Super Regional in Ann Arbor. Shaina Brock started for Baylor, while Jordan Taylor is pitching for Michigan.
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Michigan beats Baylor softball 8-1 in opener
9:16 p.m.: Dorian Shaw collected three homers and six RBIs and Nikki Nemitz threw a three-hitter as Michigan rolled to an 8-1 win over Baylor in the opening game of the Super Regional Friday night in Ann Arbor.
9:10 p.m.: Shaw blasted her third homer — a two-run shot over the center-field fence off Shaina Brock — to give Michigan an 8-1 lead in the sixth.
8:44 p.m.: Brittany Turner relieved Canion to open the fifth, but Shaw blasted a two-run homer to give the Wolverines a 5-1 lead.
8:21 p.m.: Canion works out of a bases-loaded jam with no outs. The Wolverines fail to score, but still lead 3-1.
8:08 p.m.: Tiffany Wesley hit a ground-rule double and scored on Bree Hanafin’s single for Baylor’s first run off Nemitz in the top of the fourth to cut Michigan’s lead to 3-1.
7:57 p.m.: Dorian Shaw drew a bases-loaded walk from Canion to give the Wolverines a 3-0 lead in the third inning. Canion has allowed five hits and three walks through the third. Meagan Weldon singled in the top of the third for Baylor, the only hit off Nikki Nemitz.
7:36 p.m.: Dorian Shaw blasted a long solo homer over the left-field fence with one out to give the Wolverines a 2-0 lead in the second inning.
7:21 p.m. Bree Evans scored on Amanda Chidester’s sacrifice fly off Whitney Canion to give Michigan a 1-0 lead after the first inning in the Super Regional in Ann Arbor. Evans reached on an infield single and moved to third on Angela Findlay’s single to right field.
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Baylor-Kansas State baseball — Big 12 tournament
10:19 p.m. — After KSU’s Justin Bloxom pads the Wildcat lead with a no-doubt solo jack to right field in the top of the ninth, the Bears muster little resistance in the bottom of the inning, as Shaver Hansen and Aaron Miller both ground out to end it. K-State wins, 9-4, and will play Texas for the right to play in the tourney final Sunday.
10:05 p.m. — Baylor goes down in order in the eighth. It’s going to take a big rally for the Bears in the ninth if they want to extend their season past Saturday and reach the Big 12 tourney championship game. The Wildcats hold an 8-4 lead.
9:59 p.m. — Baylor gets out of the inning without further harm, as Nick Martini grounds to short for the third out. The Bears have some work to do, trailing 8-4 entering the bottom of the eighth. And they’ll do it against a new pitcher, K-State southpaw Thomas Rooke.
9:54 p.m. — Steve Smith’s night is also done, as he protested third base umpire Pat Speler’s call on a check swing from Adam Muenster. Smith and the players were livid with the call, and Smith continued to protest even after Muenster lofted a sacrifice fly to left to score KSU’s eighth run.
9:48 p.m. — Aaron Miller’s night on the mound is done. After striking out KSU’s Jordan Cruz to open the eighth, he walks Rob Vaughn and then hits Dane Yelovich in the ankle with a curveball. Shawn Tolleson comes in out of the pen. In case you’d like the rest of the changes, Don Lambert will come out of the game, while Miller will go back to right field. Ben Booker is in center, and Dan Evatt is in left.
9:41 p.m. — Marshall blows a 3-2 fastball by Lambert, and the Bears can’t get any closer. But they’re within striking distance again, trailing 7-4 after seven innings.
9:36 p.m. — It’s rally time for the Bears. After Hainsfurther and Dickerson open the seventh with consecutive singles, Raynor Campbell follows with a walk to load the bases for the meat of BU’s batting order. All of the runs end up coming in to score, on a couple of Morris wild pitches and an Aaron Miller groundout. Now K-State has turned to reliever Evan Marshall with two out and two on, and Don Lambert at the plate.
9:21 p.m. — K-State extends its lead to 7-1 when Jason King rips his fifth triple of the year through the infield and into the right-field corner, scoring teammates Nick Martini and Justin Bloxom. Incidentally, Bricktown is a great triples park, especially with its diagonal wall in right field. The Wildcats lead 7-1 after 6.5 innings, which is the same score they beat Baylor by with Morris in March.
9:08 p.m. — Baylor manages only a one-out single from Ben Booker in the sixth, as the Wildcats continue to cruise with a 5-1 lead.
9:01 p.m. — K-State strands one baserunner in the sixth, and Miller has thrown back-to-back scoreless innings for the Bears. Baylor trails 5-1 as they enter the home half of the sixth, with the stingy Morris still on the mound for the Wildcats.
8:53 p.m. — Dickerson singles, then steals second for Baylor, but the Bears can’t bring him around. The score remains 5-1 in favor of the Wildcats through five innings.
8:46 p.m. — Miller overcomes a four-pitch walk against KSU’s Jurica to start the inning, finishing with three straight outs. It’s still 5-1 K-State, as we head to the bottom of the fifth.
8:37 p.m. — Aaron Miller, who was originally slated to start, will take over on the mound to start the fifth inning. Miller’s ERA as a reliever is considerably better than it is as a starter, which is presumably one of the reasons Steve Smith didn’t start him tonight. Kempf gave up seven hits and four runs in four innings, striking out four and walking one.
8:36 p.m. — Morris escapes the fourth unscathed, getting some defensive help with a “Top Play” nominee from Yelovich, the centerfielder. He laid out to snare a would-be base hit from Don Lambert in shallow left-center. K-State holds a 5-1 edge through four complete.
8:28 p.m. — K-State pads its lead with a three-run outburst, including a pair of unearned runs. Rob Vaughn drove in one of the runs for K-State with a single to center, then Dane Yelovich dropped down a bunt that Kempf fielded, but threw away when he tried to throw out Jordan Cruz at third base, after Cruz got caught in a rundown. The error allowed two runs to come in, and it’s 5-1, Wildcats after 3.5 innings.
8:17 p.m. — The Bears get the leadoff batter aboard for the third straight inning, as Joey Hainsfurther laces an inside-out single to left. Two batters later, Shaver Hansen delivers an RBI single to center, and the Bears have trimmed K-State’s lead to 2-1 heading into the top of the fourth.
8:09 p.m. — KSU’s Carter Jurica, he of the impressive .364 batting average, hammers a single to left to lead off the third for the Wildcats. But Baylor erases him when Kempf induces a double-play grounder from Nick Martini. The score remains 2-0 Wildcats through 2.5 innings.
8:03 p.m. — The Bears waste a leadoff double from Dan Evatt, as the next three hitters go down in order against Morris. It’s still 2-0, K-State, through two full innings.
7:55 p.m. — Kempf puts together a strong inning, striking out the first two K-State hitters and then getting Adam Muenster to ground out for a 1-2-3 inning. Baylor will now try to cut into K-State’s lead, trailing 2-0.
7:49 p.m. — Dustin Dickerson, Baylor’s most reliable hitter, opens up with a sharp single to left field, extending his hitting streak to 12 games. Raynor Campbell follows by popping a bunt up, but then Shaver Hansen moves Dickerson over by working a walk off KSU ace A.J. Morris. But the Bears can’t put any runs on the board, as Aaron Miller grounds into an inning-ending double play. Score: 2-0, KSU, through one inning.
7:41 p.m. — Three of Kansas State’s first four hitters rip hits off BU starter Willie Kempf, including Justin Bloxom, who drives in two runs with a looping single to center field. That’s the fifth straight game that Baylor has allowed multiple first-inning runs to a Big 12 opponent. The Wildcats take a quick 2-0 lead.
7:19 p.m. — Greetings again, baseball fans. The grounds crew here at Bricktown Ballpark is putting the finishing touches on the field, and we’re only about 10 minutes away from some baseball. Incidentally, I did mis-state Baylor’s title game scenario in my game story in today’s paper (and here on the Web). I said Baylor could clinch a spot in the championship game with a victory over K-State. However, the Bears needed that, and a Texas win over Kansas today. For some reason, I failed to mention that.
Anyway, Texas did defeat Kansas, 9-5, so the Bears are indeed playing for a spot in Sunday’s tourney final. If Baylor wins this game coming up, it could do no worse than 2-1 in pool play, and the best that either K-State or Texas could do is 2-1. And Baylor would have beaten both those teams head-to-head. Kapiche?
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Baylor-Texas baseball — Big 12 tournament
3:48 p.m. — Texas puts a couple of runners on base, but Baylor puts the finishing touches on the win when Volz gets Brandon Belt to hit into a game-ending double play. The Bears win a much-needed Big 12 opener over Texas, 14-9.
3:40 p.m. — Baylor adds a little insurance in the top of the ninth thanks to a solo jack from Dan Evatt. The Bears lead, 14-9, going into the bottom of the ninth, with Volz on tap to close it out.
3:32 p.m. — Volz gets out of the eighth unscathed, allowing only a two-out single to Brandon “Don’t Call Me Roy” Loy. The Bears head to the top of the ninth, leading 13-9. Andrew McKirahan will pitch the ninth for the Longhorns.
3:24 p.m. — Dustin Dickerson leads off the eighth with a solid single, but he’s wiped out when Raynor Campbell grounds into a double play. Then Carrillo induces an inning-ending groundout from Shaver Hansen. By the way, with his two hits today Dickerson has extended his hitting streak to 11 games and has hit safely in 35 of his last 36 games overall. The Bears lead, 13-9, with six outs left to record.
3:16 p.m. — Brandon Belt ropes a two-out, two-run home run about 352 feet (just over the fence) in left field, and Texas has cut Baylor’s lead to 13-9 through seven full innings.
3:03 p.m. — For the first time in a long time, everything is going right for Baylor. Brooks Kimmey greets Carrillo with a high chopper across the infield, and both baserunners come home when Torres throws wide of first base. The Bears are feeling good here at the seven-inning stretch, leading 13-7. Kendal Volz, in a “closer” role for the first time since his Team USA stint last summer, is coming in for Fritsch to pitch the bottom of the seventh.
2:58 p.m. — And there’s yet another pitching change for Texas, as Augie Garrido appears ready to pull out all the stops to win this game. Shinaberry faces one batter and gets a groundout from Don Lambert — thanks to a nice diving stop by UT third baseman Michael Torres — but now Kendal Carrillo will get his turn for the Horns with two outs in the seventh. Can you say micro-managing, Augie?
2:55 p.m. — And the revolving door of UT pitchers continues. Dan Evatt hammers a one-out single and Ben Booker follows with a deep double to right to chase Workman from the game. Keith Shinaberry will take the hill for Texas now.
2:49 p.m. — Fritsch is absolutely dealing for the Bears. Texas gets one bad-hop single, but Fritsch records all three outs via strikeout. He’s got 9 Ks for the game, just one shy of his career high. Baylor leads 11-7 through six complete innings.
2:40 p.m. — Shaver Hansen drills a well-struck liner into the right-field corner to drive home Dickerson and Campbell. Hansen is thrown out 9-to-4-to-5 at third base trying to stretch the hit into a triple, but the Bears have suddenly come to life, with an eight-run sixth inning. That’s the most runs Baylor has scored in an inning against a Big 12 play, and the most since a 10-run inning against Northwestern State back on April 7. Score: Baylor, 11-7, heading into the bottom of the sixth.
2:35 p.m. — Welcome back, Baylor. It’s a ball game again. Lambert displays a good eye and draws a walk to drive home one run, then pinch-hitter Brooks Kimmey belts a deep sac fly to right to score another. After a Joey Hainsfurther walk, Dustin Dickerson reaches out and tags a two-run double to left-center for a clutch two-out base knock. Then Campbell, who led off the inning, bangs an RBI single to bring the score to 9-7, Baylor. That’s it for UT’s usually-nasty reliever Austin Wood, who will be replaced by Brandon Workman.
2:23 p.m. — The Bears have shown a slight uprising here in the sixth. Dicharry opened the inning by plunking Raynor Campbell, then Shaver Hansen sprayed a double down the left-field line. Aaron Miller followed with a walk to load the bases for Dan Evatt, who struck out. But Ben Booker delivered an RBI single to left to cut the gap to 7-4. After going to a 2-2 count on Don Lambert, Dicharry has been replaced by lefty Austin Wood, who’s warming up now.
2:10 p.m. — Fritsch retires Texas in order in a clean bottom of the fifth. That included a gem of a defensive play from Joey Hainsfurther on a hard-hit grounder by UT’s Travis Tucker to lead off the inning. One of the few bright spots of Baylor’s play over the past few weeks has been the defensive efforts of Hainsfurther at second base, who makes the backhanded-stop-and-gun-to-first play as quickly as anyone. Austin Dicharry will take the mound for Texas in the top of the sixth, as Green’s day is done. Texas still leads, 7-3.
2:04 p.m. — Baylor wastes a leadoff single from Don Lambert. Green has really fooled BU’s batters by changing speeds, as five Bears have struck out looking on the day. Green has 7 Ks in all. Score: UT, 7-3, heading to the bottom of the fifth.
1:58 p.m. — The Longhorns put two batters on with one out, but Craig Fritsch works his way out of the jam for BU’s first scoreless inning on the mound today. Fritsch has been erratic so far. His fastball is popping — hitting up to 96 mph on the scoreboard radar gun — but he’s also dribbled several pitches short of the plate and given up four hits and two walks. Score: 7-3, Texas, after four complete innings.
1:47 p.m. — UT’s Green sits down Aaron Miller, Dan Evatt and Ben Booker in order in a quick top of the fourth. Texas leads 7-3 heading to the home half of the inning.
1:43 p.m. — Just like Baylor, Texas leads off the third with a triple, as Connor Rowe drills one into Bricktown Ballpark’s odd-shaped right-field corner. Michael Torres promptly brings home Rowe with a soaring sacrifice fly to the warning track in left, and the Horns later add another run on a Brandon Belt RBI double. Texas is in control, 7-3, after three full innings.
1:32 p.m. — Joey Hainsfurther belts a triple off the right-field fence to lead off the inning, then trots home on a groundout from Dustin Dickerson as Baylor nudges a little closer. Austin Dicharry is warming in the Texas bullpen, but Green has still only allowed three hits through the first three innings. Score: 5-3, Texas, through 2.5 innings.
1:22 p.m. — UT rightfielder Kevin Keyes slaps a two-run single to center, but Fritsch and the Bears escape without any further damage. Texas leads 5-2 through two complete innings, and has sent 17 batters to the plate.
1:16 p.m. — Well, Texas has loaded the bases with one out against BU’s Logan Verrett, and Baylor coach Steve Smith will turn to Craig Fritsch out of the bullpen. Verrett’s outing is done after 46 pitches.
1:04 p.m. — UT’s Green strikes out the side, fanning Ben Booker, Don Lambert and Gregg Glime in order in the top of the second. It’s still 3-2, Horns.
12:57 p.m. — Texas gets three in the home half of the first to take the lead. Logan Verrett left a number of pitches over the heart of the plate, and the Longhorns jumped on them with four singles, including two that never left the infield. It’s 3-2 Texas after one complete.
12:41 p.m. — Pretty good start for the Bears, who could certainly use one. Raynor Campbell smacks a one-out double to the right-centerfield gap, then two batters later Aaron Miller absolutely unloads on a fastball from UT’s Cole Green, crushing it over the bullpen past the right-field fence for a two-run shot. After one-half an inning, it’s 2-0, Baylor.
12:35 p.m. — Incidentally, Kansas State outlasted Kansas, 5-4, in the opening game here at the Big 12 tourney. That was a rematch of the teams’ Sunflower State series which Kansas won, two games to one, this past weekend.
12:25 — Greetings, baseball fans. It’s a lovely day here in Oklahoma City, site of the Big 12 tournament. Though I must admit it’s a little stuffy inside the press box. Anyway, we’re about 10 minutes away from getting going with Baylor’s opening game against the top-seeded Texas Longhorns. I’ll be providing periodic updates throughout the game, typically after each half-inning.
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NCAA women’s tennis quarterfinals — No. 4 Baylor vs. No. 5 Notre Dame
Scoreboard
Singles
- Taylor Ormond (BU) falls to Kelcy Tefft, 6-2, 6-3; 2. Lenka Broosova (BU) defeats Kristy Frilling, 6-1, 6-1; 3. Jelena Stanivuk (BU) defeats Cosmina Ciobanu, 6-1, 7-5; 4. Csilla Borsanyi (BU) falls to Shannon Mathews, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4; 5. Nina Secerbegovic (BU) defeas Kali Krisik, 6-0, 6-0; 6. Kasia Siwosz (BU) falls to Kristen Rafael, 6-3, 6-0…Order of finish: 5,2,6,1,3…Notre Dame wins, 4-3
Doubles
- Broosova/Borsanyi (BU) fall to Frilling/Tefft, 8-4; 2. Ormond/Stanivuk (BU) defeat Ciobanu/Krisik, 8-3; 3. Secerbegovic/Siwosz (BU) fall to Mathews/Rielley, 8-5…Order of finish: 2,1,3…Notre Dame leads 1-0
10:11: Borsanyi misses wide, and the Bears’ season is over, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4.
In the end, Baylor was just relying too much on four players to get all of its point every time. Borsanyi’s teammates are all giving her a hug, trying to cheer her up. Borsanyi fought hard all the way in the third and final set, but a 4-0 deficit was just too much to overcome.
10:09: Match point as Mathews loops a forehand cross-court for a winner. 30-40
10:08: Mathews comes in, but Borsanyi dips a backhand at her feet, and she puts it into the net. 30-30
10:07: A deep Borsanyi shot forces an error, 15-30
10:06: Yet another baseline exchange, and Mathews gets the better of it when Borsanyi mishits and flies a forehand. 0-30
10:05: Mathews puts a forehand just inside the sideline, and it’s 0-15.
10:04: Borsanyi is shaking her racket and has some zip to her walk after the changeover. I think she believes she can do this. We’ll see if she can.
10:03: Borsanyi will serve to even the match again, as she breaks at 15. Mathews finally makes some errors in that game, putting a couple shots in the net. It’s 5-4.
10:01: If Borsanyi’s going down, she’s going down swinging. A forehand winner, and it’s 0-30.
10:00: And it’s now 5-3, after Mathews gets into an offensive position and puts the shot away.
9:58: But she’s right back down at 0-30, and 0-40 after a bad double fault.
9:55: Unbelievable…we’re back on serve. For the first time in a long time, Mathews appears to be a little rattled and the momentum is on Borsanyi’s side.
9:53: It’s now 15-40 after Mathews just flies the baseline with a forehand.
9:52: That was a big break for Borsanyi, and she’s got some life back to her now at 0-30.
9:49: Somebody just made noise during a point — sounded like one of the Baylor players standing on the court next to where the match is going on — and thinking that Borsanyi called it out, Mathews relaxed and hit a ball out. The Notre Dame contingent complained to the chair that Borsanyi had called it out, but the call went Baylor’s way, and it’s 4-2.
9:46: Borsanyi gets out of it with a nice slice forehand that stays low and forces an error from Mathews. It’s deuce.
9:45: A Borsanyi forehand into the net gives Mathews a 30-40 edge and a point for 5-1.
9:42: The rallies just keep going Mathews’ way. She just seems to have more in the tank than Borsanyi. It’s 15-30.
9:39: It ain’t over yet. Borsanyi gets a break to get on the board. She still has a mountain to climb, but at least she has some positive momentum going on.
9:37: Even when Borsanyi wins a point, there is very little positive emotion from her. Finally after a backhand swinging volley winner gives her a 15-30 lead, she gives a little fist pump.
9:35: Mathews just isn’t letting up. One of her shots skids off the baseline, forcing a defensive shot from Borsanyi. Mathews pounces and puts the point away. 15-0.
9:34: Borsanyi staves off the deficit for a second with a good first serve to win a point, but she misses a forehand long and it is 4-0 for Mathews.
9:32: Mathews just isn’t giving Borsanyi anything. The Baylor junior is completely on the run, and Mathews has three points for 4-0.
9:29: If anything, the freshman is thriving in the spotlight. She’s got Borsanyi on a string, is hitting winners and is forcing errors from Borsanyi.
9:27: As we get later in this set, I keep looking for signs that the Notre Dame freshman is going to crack. Nothing yet.
9:25: It’s all going Mathews’ way. Borsanyi hits a solid forehand and has Mathews on the run, but she flicks a running forehand down the line for a winner. 15-0.
9:23: After yet another long exchange, Borsanyi’s frames a forehand and sends it wide. 2-0 Mathews.
9:22: Borsanyi hits another good serve, but Mathews works the point around for a forehand winner. Back to deuce.
9:21: Borsanyi misses wide by less than half and inch for deuce, but puts in another unreturned serve for another game point.
9:19: Borsanyi misses wide and stands there with a look on her face like she wants to punch something, but she responds with an unreturned serve for 40-30.
9:17: The tension in the stands is palpable as it’s dead silent during points.
9:15: Borsanyi finally gets a break point but misses a return and on her seventh game point, Mathews finally holds.
9:12: Another game point, and back to deuce. One more time.
9:10: Fifth game point, back to deuce again.
9:08: Another Mathews game point, and Borsanyi swats it away with a forehand winner.
9:07: Mathews broke out to a 40-0 lead in the opening game of the third set, but Borsanyi has rallied back to deuce.
8:58: Back-to-back double faults, and Mathews takes the second set, 6-3.
8:57: Deuce now as they trade errors.
8:56: Borsanyi pulls out of the hole and it’s 30-all.
8:54: I wish I had an average shot per rally stat for them because the number has to be high. Anyway, Mathews is two points away from the set now at 0-30.
8:52: Another extended rally ends with a forehand winner from Mathews, and it’s 5-3.
8:51: Mathews stays solid during a 20-plus-shot exchange, and Borsanyi flies a forehand. It’s 40-30.
8:50: Borsanyi rips a running backhand pass down the line, and it’s 30-all.
8:48: Mathews hits a good second serve and Borsanyi’s return misses. Now it’s 30-0 after a big 1-2 from Mathews.
8:47: The Baylor fans’ life has returned, as they cheered Borsanyi on throughout the changeover. Now the pressure is on Mathews to break Borsanyi’s hot streak.
8:45: A Mathews forehand return flies, and it’s now 4-3.
8:44: Another forehand winner, Mathews backhand miss and return miss and Borsanyi is a point away from pulling within 4-3 at 40-0.
8:42: Borsanyi unleashes a cross-court forehand for a winner, and pulls back within 4-2.
8:39: Borsanyi’s fighting back. It’s 0-40 on Mathews’ serve.
8:37: The other night, Borsanyi fell behind 5-0 in the first set against Veronica Li of Stanford. She won the next four games before dropping the set. But if she can hit a hot streak here, she can make things very interesting.
8:36: Borsanyi gets on the board in the second set with a hold of serve and trails 4-1.
8:35: And here we go again. It’s win-or-go-home time for Borsanyi, as Stanivuk finishes off Ciobanu, 6-1, 7-5.
8:33: It’s 4-0 for Mathews as a Borsanyi forehand hits the tape, pops up in the air and falls back on her side. Meanwhile, match point for Stanivuk to make it all about Borsanyi again.
8:31: Stanivuk gets the always-important first point of the game, while Borsanyi and Mathews are even at 30-all with Mathews serving at 3-0 in the second.
8:28: Are Borsanyi’s legs giving out or is this just a down stretch for her? She’s got to dig deep here because another third set could be really tough to pull out. Stanivuk breaks for a 6-5 lead and will serve for the match.
8:26: A 14-shot rally goes to Mathews, and it’s break point for 3-0 in the second.
8:24: Stanivuk holds for 5-all, as Borsanyi struggles to get it back together. This could be another marathon for her if things keep going the way they are. Long points, long games, long match.
8:22: Borsanyi’s lost it a little bit. She and Mathews are engaging in long rallies, and Mathews is winning most of them on Borsanyi errors.
8:21: Mathews takes a 2-0 lead, as Stanivuk fights off the set point and now has a game point for 5-all.
8:20: A Stanivuk double fault, and it’s set point for Ciobanu.
8:18: Borsanyi broken to open the second set, but something tells me that won’t be the only break of the set on that court. Ciobanu is two points away from evening the match on 3.
8:15: Stanivuk breaks right back on 3, and will serve to stay in the set. It’s deuce in the first game on 4 with Borsanyi serving.
8:13: And now it’s over on 1. Notre Dame takes a 3-2 lead. It’s up to Stanivuk and Borsanyi to keep the Bears’ season alive. They both hold a set lead.
8:12: A huge break for Ciobanu as Stanivuk puts one in the net. It’s over on 6, where Rafael has taken a 6-3, 6-0 victory. It’s tied at 2.
8:10: And Borsanyi forces a Mathews error and has the first set. That’s four for Baylor, while Tefft is a game away from the match. It could be a 3-2 Irish lead very soon.
8:09: A double fault, and Borsanyi has two set points at 4. This could be a huge moment in this match.
8:06: Borsanyi gets the first point at 6-5, while Ciobanu stays on serve with Stanivuk in the second set. She’s employing Tefft’s tactics and not giving Stanivuk anything to hit.
8:05: And Borsanyi does it, winning the game at love to go up 6-5. Let’s see what Mathews is made of.
8:03: Borsanyi jumps up 40-0 to go up 6-5. It would be big for her to serve this out at love and put the pressure right back on Mathews.
8:02: Mathews hits a winner, and we’re right back even at 5. Borsanyi to serve.
8:00: Broosova has fallen back into her role as head cheerleader, as Borsanyi rips a backhand winner to get back to deuce on 4.
7:59: Mathews has a game point to level the first set at 5.
7:57: Broosova finishes off Frilling on her third match point, as Ormond gives the break right back.
7:55: Another slow clap, this time it’s on 2, where Broosova has match point.
7:54: But like I said earlier, I think the match will be decided at 4, and Mathews is serving, down 4-5, 15-30.
7:53: Ormond finally making some noise, getting the break to take a lead in the second set. Broosova is two points from the match on 2.
7:51: I hear a slow clap, double match point for Secerbegovic, and there it is. Krisik can’t handle the serve, and it’s an even team match, 1-1.
7:50: And it’s double break point for Mathews to get back on serve with Borsanyi, and Borsanyi flies a forehand. It’s 5-4.
7:47: A big overhead and Mathews holds. Now it’s up to Borsanyi to serve out the set. Stanivuk falls down, 2-0.
7:45: Stanivuk played poor first sets the last two matches and came back to win. Today, she played a great first set. Can she keep it going?
7:40: Shadows are all but covering the court, but the lights haven’t really taken effect yet. Doesn’t seem to be affecting the play. Borsanyi and Mathews are in another game at deuce. Can’t they just agree to start every game there? Borsanyi gets a big hold to go up 5-2 with an ace, no less, and trots back to the bench for the changeover. She’s fired up right now.
7:36: Borsanyi breaks back. This match is starting to look like the third set from the other night. Let’s see which player comes up with a big hold first. Secerbegovic finally faced a game point against her, but now she has one of her own.
7:35: Well that’s three first sets for Baylor, two for Notre Dame, with Borsanyi and Mathews lagging way behind at 3-2.
7:32: It can’t be as easy as Secerbegovic is making it look, leading 6-0, 2-0, and not even really breaking a sweat.
7:30: And Mathews gets back on serve in that match, down 3-2. And there’s a first set for Notre Dame, with Tefft taking it, 6-2, over Ormond.
7:28: I get the sneaky suspicion that this match is going to come down to Court 4, just like the other night. Speaking of the other night, the lights just came on. Everyone hold your breath.
7:25: Broosova puts away the first set, while Tefft holds for a 5-2 lead. It’s a returner’s match on 6, as Rafael just broke for a 4-3 lead.
7:22: And Borsanyi holds for a 3-0 lead, while Ormond is starting to find the range a little. She knows she has to become more aggressive to get anything done in this match. Meanwhile, Secerbegovic puts the first set in her pocket, 6-0.
7:18: Secerbegovic is only one game from the first set, while Stanivuk has the match’s first break on 3. Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. Baylor dropped the doubles, trails at 1, leads at 2-5 and trails at 6.
7:14: Borsanyi takes an early 2-0 lead, breaking after a long return game. Tefft continues to give Ormond nothing to hit, and it continues to work. It’s a match of blooper balls. Broosova’s found a nice groove on 2 and has won the last 4 games.
7:10: Secerbegovic is doing what she does: destroy everything in her path. Today, it’s Krisik, and she’s up 3-0.
7:08: It’s a major contrast in styles on 1. Tefft hits a lot of junk and just tries to force errors, while Ormond tries to hit everything she sees through a wall. So far, it’s all Tefft, 3-0.
7:05: Borsanyi finally holds, and so does Siwosz for a 2-1 lead.
7:04: Borsanyi just can’t get out of this opening game. She’s had several advantages, but just hasn’t found a way to get the last point on the board.
7:01: Borsanyi is getting exactly what she didn’t need, a long service game to start the match. After staying on court for 3 hours, 12 minutes the other night, conserving energy could be a big deal for her today.
6:57: Singles has started, with Secerbegovic breaking at love for the first game on any court.
6:51: The players are back out on the courts beginning warmups for singles. Looking at the matchups, I just get the feeling if Baylor’s going to win, it’s going to be because of its No. 2, 3, 4 and 5 players. But we’ll see. Ormond has dropped two matches to Tefft, maybe the third time’s the charm.
6:45: I’ve decided it’s probably easier to just give you the full names on the scoreboard than to have you looking down the page and back up to the top of the scoreboard for first names. Anyway, the rankings for Baylor are: Ormond 39, Broosova 33, Stanivuk 44 and Borsanyi 70; for Notre Dame: Tefft 29, Frilling 38
6:39: But now it is. Siwosz flies a forehand return, and Notre Dame wins the doubles point in an hour and a minute.
This is the third straight match the Bears have lost doubles. They’ve found a way to win the first two, but can they do it again?
6:38: Broosova has a volley at her feet and nets it, and ND wins at 1. The Bears were down 40-0, but it’s now 40-30. Not over yet.
6:37: It’s match point for Notre Dame on 1 and 3.
6:35: Baylor’s not going quietly on 3, holding to get within 7-5.
6:34: Match point for Baylor on 2 and Stanivuk angles off a backhand volley to finish it, 8-3.
6:33: ND is one game away from the win on two courts, as Borsanyi puts a shot into the net for a love break. It’s 7-4 there and on 3.
6:32: Frilling is no longer the weak link as she just fought off about three volleys at her feet before ripping on for a winner to put the Bears down, 0-30.
6:30: Frilling holds to 6-4, while ND has a game point to go up 7-4 on 3 and gets it.
6:28: Baylor is nearing the finish line on 2, with Ormond serving for the match. After giving away a break on 3, the Bears are right back up 0-30.
6:26: Baylor gives the break and momentum right back on 3, while Broosova holds on 1 to pull back within 5-4.
6:25: The Bears are rolling again on 2, jumping up 6-3 and they just took the first point of the next game with a forehand winner from Stanivuk.
6:23: Borsanyi knocks off a swinging backhand volley and yells out come on. There was plenty of frustration coming out with that one.
6:22: And now the Irish hold on 1 for a 5-3 lead. The Bears have a point for a 6-3 advantage on 2, while Secerbegovic hits a one-hop volley into the net on 3 on the first point at 5-4.
6:20: ND flies a shot on 3, and Baylor’s right back in it, down 5-4 on serve.
6:19: Borsanyi nets a swinging volley, and ND goes up 4-3 with a love break.
6:16: Krisik misses and Baylor stops the three-game run at 2 and goes up 5-3.
6:15: And ND holds at 1 for 3-all, while Ormond nets a forehand on break point. Deuce on 2.
6:12: Tefft puts a volley in the net and it’s a break point for the Bears at 1, but Frilling knocks off a volley to get it back to deuce.
6:10: Things are turning on 2. It’s now 4-3 as Ormond is broken at love. ND has a point to make it 3-all on 1.
6:08: The exploitation of Frilling continues at 1. She’s serving and just missed a backhand into the net and another wide. They aren’t even hitting to Tefft at all.
6:05: Siwosz holds, but Broosova is broken again. It’s still 3-2 Bears at 1.
6:03: Notre Dame is on the board at 2 with a break of Stanivuk, but it’s still 4-1 Baylor.
6:02: Now that’s a Broosova backhand. She whizzes one by Frilling, who has to duck at the net to get out of the way, and the ball lands just short of the baseline.
6:00: Frilling misses a volley long and the Bears have won three straight games for a 3-1 lead at 1. Frilling is visibly frustrated and can’t seem to get anything in the court right now.
5:58: A net cord for ND pops in the air and falls back on its side on 2. That makes it a 4-0 Baylor lead.
5:55: Notre Dame halfway home on 3. It’s 4-1. Broosova kills an overhead to finally end a long service game for Borsanyi. It’s 2-1 Bears on 1.
5:53: Frilling just misses a forehand pass wide, as Baylor pulls out of another break point.
5:51: Free point for Baylor on 1 gets it back to deuce. Borsanyi’s serve is called out by Tefft, but it was overruled by the chair. Baylor holds for a 3-0 lead on 2.
5:49: It’s all Irish on 3, as they take a 3-0 lead. Broosova is still struggling, as she just missed an easy overhead chance. It’s a break point on 1.
5:48: Krisik can’t handle a Stanivuk return and flies a volley long, giving Baylor a 2-0 lead on 2.
5:46: ND is wearing black tops with their names on the back written in white. So that’s convenient. The Irish have broken Siwosz at 3 for an early 2-0 lead. It just doesn’t look like Baylor has its legs under it yet. But Borsanyi clips the line with a return to get the break back on 1.
5:45: Frilling serves for the Irish, and she and Tefft both have an error to start their first service game. It’s 0-30, but Tefft responds with a volley that hits Broosova in the shoulder. 15-30.
5:42: An uncharacteristic opening game from Broosova, as she has three backhand errors. That’s usually her money shot. She’s also struggling to get first serves in and double faults on break point. Stanivuk holds her serve on 2.
5:41: Notre Dame is on the board first, getting a hold at 3 to open the match.
5:39: The match has begun, with Notre Dame serving at No. 3, Baylor at Nos. 1 and 2.
5:35: Baylor and Notre Dame have met twice this season, with the Irish taking a 4-3 decision Feb. 14 at the National Indoor, while the Bears took a 5-2 decision in South Bend, Ind., on March 31. This is the one that truly matters. The biggest question I see is whether or not Baylor has recovered physically and mentally from its 4-3 win over Stanford on Friday night that actually ended at 2:12 a.m. Saturday.
5:30: Duke has finished off Miami, 4-1, so the Baylor-Notre Dame match will be on shortly.
Here are doubles lineups:
13 Lenka Broosova/Csilla Borsanyi (BU) vs. 2 Kristy Frilling/Kelcy Tefft
65 Jelena Stanivuk/Taylor Ormond (BU) vs. 64 Cosmina Ciobanu/Kali Krisik
Nina Secerbegovic/Kasia Siwosz (BU) vs. Shannon Mathews/Colleen Rielley
5:09 p.m.: We’re past the scheduled first serve time for No. 4 Baylor and No. 5 Notre Dame, but there is still a match going on the grandstand courts between No. 3 Duke and No. 6 Miami.
It looks like the Blue Devils should be able to finish that one out in the next half-hour or so, and it shouldn’t be much after that before the Bears and Fighting Irish take to the courts.
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Baylor beats Louisiana-Lafayette, 6-1, to win regional
4:52 p.m. Whitney Canion throws a three-hitter as Baylor knocks off Louisiana-Lafayette, 6-1, to win the Waco regional. Baylor will face Michigan next weekend in Ann Arbor in the Super Regional.
4:36 p.m.: Alex Colyer delivered a run-scoring single and Courtney Oberg drilled a two-run triple against reliever Brittany Cuevas as Baylor exploded for five runs in the bottom of the fifth to grab a 6-1 lead. Sydney Wilson also hit a run-scoring single as the Lady Bears batted around.
4:10 p.m.: Baylor tied the game when Brette Reagan walked and scored on Courtney Oberg’s single. After Nicole Wesley reached on a fielder’s choice, Megan Turk singled up the middle, but Oberg was thrown out at home by centerfielder Karli Hubbard for the third out of the fourth inning.
3:59 p.m.: Orgeron singled and moved to second on a wild pitch, but Canion retires the next two hitters to get of the fourth-inning jam.
3:38 p.m.: Alex Colyer leads off with a walk and moves to second on Courtney Oberg’s bunt, but Brignac strands her at second by retiring last two batters to get out of bottom of the second.
3:25 p.m.: Christi Orgeron walked and scored on Lana Bowers’ double to the right-field alley off Whitney Canion to give the Ragin’ Cajuns a 1-0 lead in top of second.
3:19 p.m.: The Lady Bears went down in order in the bottom of the first. Louisiana-Lafayette is pitching Ashley Brignac, who one-hit Texas State in a 5-0 win earlier Sunday.
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Baylor softball will play Louisiana-Lafayette
Louisiana-Lafayette came out of the losers’ bracket to reach the championship round against Baylor at the Waco regional at 3 p.m. Sunday at Getterman Stadium.
The Ragin’ Cajuns knocked off Northwestern, 3-2, and then beat Texas State, 5-0. Baylor needs to win one game to win the regional title while Louisiana-Lafayette has to win twice.
The Lady Bears pulled off a 2-1 win over Louisiana-Lafayette Friday.
The winner will face Michigan in Ann Arbor next weekend in the Super Regional.
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NCAA men’s tennis quarterfinals — No. 6 Baylor vs. No. 3 Ohio State
Scoreboard: Singles: 1. Lukacs (BU) vs. Koniecko, DNF; 2. Rux (BU) is defeated by Moneke, 6-3, 6-1; 3. Bley (BU) is defeated by Kronauge, 6-1, 6-0; 4. Mueller (BU) defeats Allare, 6-2, 6-3; 5. Bucko (BU) is defeated by Novak, 6-0, 6-2; 6. Horny (BU) vs. Buchanan, DNF…Order of finish: 4,3,2,5; Ohio State wins, 4-1 Doubles 1. Galic/Rux (BU) are defeated by Kronauge/Allare, 8-3; 2. Horny/Lukacs (BU) vs. Uzawa/Koniecko, DNF; 3. Bley/Mueller (BU) are defeated by Moneke/Chase Buchanan, 8-5…Order of finish: 1,3. Ohio State leads, 1-0
1:45: Ohio State was just too good today. Baylor never was able to get into the matches at 3 and 5. I thought 2 would be a swing match, but Rux just couldn’t seem to find the range when he went for his shots. That made him tentative and ineffective. Dropping the doubles point put Baylor in a bad spot immediately and the Bears never crawled out of the hole.
1:45: Bucko misses a lob long, and Novak wins, 6-0, 6-2. That’s going to do it. The Buckeyes finish the Bears off, 4-1.
1:43: Rux misses again, and it’s match point for Moneke, 0-40. Horny is getting looked at by a trainer on 6. It might not matter, as Moneke rips a forehand return for a winner and the 6-3, 6-1 win.
1:42: Moneke takes the first point at 5-2, and Rux double faults to 0-30. Moneke’s two points away from finishing this one off.
1:40: Bucko stays alive at 5, and Novak will serve for the match and a 3-1 lead.
1:39: Moneke is making it difficult for Rux to put a dent in his serve, as he’s working the corners and keeping Rux on the move constantly.
1:36: Rux is bouncing up and down on the service line, trying to get himself going. He smacks an ace to hold and get on the board in the second set.
1:35: Moneke hits a good second serve, and after a few baseline exchanges, Rux misses. The air has been taken out of the pro-Baylor portion of the crowd, as the Buckeyes are in control.
1:33: Rux smacks a forehand winner to pull within 40-30 after trailing 40-0 in this game. He’s facing a Moneke second serve.
1:31: Moneke rips a backhand winner to open his service game, and Rux goes to the towel and a quick talk with an assistant coach.
1:29: Another Rux misfire with the point set up in his favor, and Moneke breaks again for a 3-0 second-set lead.
1:27: Rux misses an easy overhead, and it’s a microcosm of the match. He just can’t get it done when he’s going for a winner today. Bucko finally shows signs of life on 5 by winning a game, but he’s still down 3-1 in the second.
1:25: And it’s 2-1 Buckeyes, as Kronauge finishes off Bley, 6-1, 6-0.
1:23: And the match is tied at 1-all, as Mueller finishes off Allare, 6-2, 6-3. But Ohio State is two points from the match on 3.
1:21: Rux fought back to 30-all, but double faulted and missed a backhand to give Moneke the early break. Horny served for the set at 5-3 but now has lost the last four games and Buchanan will serve for the set.
1:18: But Rux is in an 0-30 hole to start.
1:16: If Baylor’s going to win this match, Rux must come back. Bucko and Bley are struggling mightily just to get anything done. Mueller is a game away from tying this match at 1, and Lukacs is also up a set. Rux desperately needs to hold to open the second set just to keep his nose in front and maybe pick up some positive steam.
1:13: Rux is starting to find the range a little with his groundstrokes, but he’s still missing from the baseline when he goes for a winner. It’s 40-15, two more set points for Moneke.
1:12: Rux holds tough and hits another backhand volley winner after setting up the point to perfection. It’s 5-3.
1:10: Rux fights off another break point, this time with Moneke putting a forehand into the net. Rux then knocks off a backhand overhead volley for a game point.
1:09: A Rux double fault and Moneke miss and it’s deuce again.
1:07: But Rux responds, hitting a first serve to set up a forehand winner, then ripping an overhead for deuce.
1:06: Another Rux miss, and it’s 15-40, two points for the set for Moneke.
1:04: Not how Rux wanted to start a game serving to stay in the set, as he double faults on the first point, then flies a backhand on the next point. 0-30.
1:01: Nobody can hold serve on 1 right now. Since Lukacs broke out to a 2-0 lead, it’s been four straight breaks of serve.
1:00: Moneke hits some big, heavy topspin groundstrokes, and that’s giving Rux fits. Moneke serving up 4-2, 30-0.
12:59: Rux does get a big first serve in to take the game nd get back to 4-2.
12:57: Rallies just aren’t Rux’s friend right now. He’s winning points when he can get a big first serve in and take control of the point immediately. But other than that, it’s all going Moneke’s way.
12:55: Baylor coach Matt Knoll just said a few words to Rux in the change over and a low 5 as he left the bench. We’ll see if Rux and get going.
12:52: So far, Lukacs is in OK shape at 1, Mueller is in control at 4 and Horny has two chances for a lead at 6. Even if those three win, Baylor’s going to have to find a fourth points somewhere, and I’m not sure where that’s going to come from right now.
12:50: Mueller puts the first set in his pocket and yells toward his teammates, hoping to pick them up.
12:49: Ohio State already has a first set on the board, as Kronauge blasts Bley, 6-1. Rux finally wins an extended rally and gets on the board, 3-1.
12:47: There’s the cure-all. Rux puts a pair of first serves in and wins both points. He’s up 30-15 on his serve.
12:46: Rux tries to take a little extra time and is given a warning for a time violation. He’s got to find a way to get back into this, and quickly.
12:44: Rux’s head must still be in the last game because he’s seriously struggling in this one. A Moneke forehand down the line for a winner makes it a 3-0 lead. It’s still early, but it’s not looking good for the Bears.
12:41: And Rux mishits a forehand that flies long, and it’s a 2-0 Ohio State lead.
12:40: Rux can’t seem to put two points together to end this game. He hits a big serve for a point and then puts a sitter of a forehand into the net.
12:36: Rux hits a big forehand winner but follows it up with a shot on the next point that rolls to the net. It’s deuce again.
12:34: But two straight Rux errors and we’re back at deuce. On 4, Mueller is making the 6-foot-7 Allare move, and he hasn’t been able to do it yet. Horny is still serving in the opening game on 6.
12:32: This appears to be a match (No. 2) that will be controlled by the server. Breaks will be at a premium. Rux is controlling the second game with his forehand and has two points to level the match at 1.
12:29: Now to our featured match, which will be on the No. 2 singles line between Rux and Moneke. Moneke held for the first game, while the first point of the second game is a let when a bunch of papers flew on the court.
12:28: OK, we’re getting started here. Lukacs held serve at 1, while Bley was broken to start at 3.
12:25: While the players warm up for singles, I just want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who stayed up with us late Friday night and into Saturday morning for the Baylor women’s match. There were times when I thought the match would never end, and it was great to see people sticking it out all the way through.
12:13: I always feel like doubles is much more important for the underdog. Today that’s Baylor. It’s going to be tough to win four of six singles matches against a stacked Ohio State lineup. But let’s set the singles lineups:
No. 1. 4 Denes Lukacs (BU) vs. 3 Bryan Koniecko
No. 2. 45 Jordan Rux (BU) vs. 9 Steven Moneke
No. 3. Julian Bley (BU) vs. 25 Justin Kronauge
No. 4. 124 Dominik Mueller (BU) vs. 113 Matt Allare
No. 5. 121 Attila Bucko (BU) vs. 74 Balazs Novak
No. 6. Maros Horny (BU) vs. Chase Buchanan
12:08: Match point for Ohio State on 3, and Mueller flies a shot long. That’s going to do it for doubles, with the Buckeyes taking a 1-0 lead.
12:07: Ohio State holds to 7-5 on 2, as Lukacs will serve to keep Baylor in the match.
12:04: And Ohio State comes up with the break on 3. It’s now 7-5 and Buchanan will serve for the doubles point.
12:03: Uh oh, another momentum turn on 3, and this one could spell doom for Baylor, as Mueller trails 15-40 on his serve.
12:02: On my preview capsules for this match, I said Baylor wants it hot and windy today. It got the wind, not the heat. Most people in the crowd are wearing a sweatshirt or jacket.
Noon: A long rally in which both teams seemed to be content to just hit the ball back and forth ends with Bley netting a backhand, and Mueller misses a backhand wide as Ohio State holds to 6-5. Horny pulls out a huge hold to keep Baylor in the match at 2, where it’s also 6-5 with the Buckeyes still up a break.
11:57: Lukacs nets a volley, and Ohio State holds for 6-4 on 2. Mueller and Bley have a break chance for the lead on 3.
11:56: Ohio State nets a volley on 3, and it’s back even at 5-all. The momentum seems to be turning there. And Lukacs does hold, but Ohio State is up 40-0 on its service game, with Koniecko toeing the line.
11:54: A Lukacs overhead splits Uzawa and Koniecko, and he’s held to pull Baylor within 5-4 on 2. Another Bley ace and it’s advantage Baylor to even the match. This isn’t over yet.
11:52: Mueller and Bley let a shot go on 3, and it falls in. It’s now deuce at 5-4 there. On 1, Kronauge puts away a volley, and it’s over. 8-3 Buckeyes.
11:51: Bley serves to even the match at 5 on 3 and throws in an ace for a 40-15 lead. Lukacs is trying to hold his serve for the first time today, but trails, 15-30.
11:48: And Baylor gets the break on 3. It’s 5-4 there, but the Buckeyes hold on 1 for a 7-3 lead. A ball from the stadium court just flew onto Court 1 of the grandstand (where Baylor is playing) and Rux sent it back with authority. I think there was some frustration let out.
11:47: Now it’s 5-2 on 2 as a Horny serve sets up an easy putaway for Lukacs. A Mueller crosscourt winner gives Baylor two break points to get back on serve at 3.
11:44: Ohio State is in complete control. Apparently, the Buckeyes’ complaining got a call overturned on 2, because the scoreboard did say 5-2, but now it’s 5-1, deuce. Not sure how that happens, but it did this time. The Bears hold on 3 for 5-3, but are broken on 1 for 6-3.
11:42: A nine-shot rapid-fire exchange at the net ends with Galic popping the ball up and beyond the baseline. Ohio State is complaining about a call on 2, but I’m not sure what the deal is. The Buckeyes still lead 5-2.
11:39: Bley and Mueller are getting pinned behind the baseline on each point, while Horny and Lukacs just can’t seem to find any kind of rhythm on 2, but they did just held servr for 5-2. It’s 5-3 now on 1, as Kronauge holds.
11:35: The Buckeyes are getting the better of every exchange at the net on every court and taking advantage every time Baylor doesn’t put away a ball it should. Case in point is Rux shanking an easy opportunity, and Ohio State responding by ripping a shot right between he and Galic for a winner. Galic is broken, and it’s 4-3 Buckeyes at 1.
11:32: OK, I believe the lineups are correct now. Check the scoreboard above for the changes. Meanwhile, Ohio State holds with a big overhead to keep pace at 3-all. An Uzawa backhand winner gives the Buckeyes a double break at 2. It’s 4-1 Ohio State there and at 3.
11:27: For now I’ll tell you that it’s 2-2 on 1, and Ohio State leads 2-1 on 2 and 3-0 on 3.
11:25: There are some lineup changes for Ohio State in doubles, but I haven’t been able to figure out what all of them are. I’m working on that now.
11:24: Galic holds to give Baylor its first lead on any court, 2-1. Ohio State consolidates its break on 2 for a 2-0 lead and breaks on 3 to go up 2-0.
11:23: The Buckeyes have won the first game on all three courts, holding on 3 for a 1-0 lead. Bley will serve for the Bears.
11:22: Lukacs’ serve is broken on 2, and it’s a 1-0 Buckeye lead there.
11:20: A Rux forehand return flies over the head of the Ohio State duo at the net and drops in for a winner to even the match at 1. Galic to serve.
11:18: A rapid-fire exchange at the net ends with a shot hitting Rux to give Ohio State an early break on 1. It’s 1-0. Baylor is serving in the opening game on 2, while Ohio State is serving on 3.
11:17: We’re just under way on 1 and 3. No score in either match yet.
11:12 a.m.: As the teams warm up for doubles, let’s set the lineups.
No. 1. 18 David Galic/Jordan Rux (BU) vs. Matt Allare/Justin Kronauge
No. 2: 64 Maros Horny/Denes Lukacs (BU) vs. 74 Balazs Novak
No. 3: Julian Bley/Dominik Mueller (BU) vs. Shuhei Uzawa/Bryan Koneiko
11:10 a.m.: Welcome back to the George P. Mitchell Tennis Center on the campus of Texas A&M University.
It’s upset day here so far, as No. 1 and undefeated Virginia was blanked by eighth-ranked USC, while No. 4 seed and two-time defending national champion Georgia was doubled up by No. 12 Texas, 4-2.
Can the sixth-seeded Bears keep the trend going against No. 3 Ohio State? We’ll know the answer soon. This is Jason Orts courtside to bring you the action.
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Baylor softball beats Texas State 7-4
10:05 p.m.: Baylor beats Texas State, 7-4, to advance to the championship game of the NCAA regional Sunday at 3 p.m. at Getterman Stadium.
9:46 p.m.: Tiffany Wesley doubled and scored on an error to open a 7-4 Baylor lead after the top of the sixth.
9:39 p.m.: Ryan Kos hit a run-scoring single to cut Baylor’s lead to 6-4 through the fifth.
9:25 p.m.: Baylor erupted for four runs in the top of the fifth to open up a 6-3 lead. Pinch-hitter Jordan Vannatta’s two-run single highlighted the inning.
9:06 p.m.: Taylor Hall ripped a bases-loaded single to give the Bobcats a 3-2 lead after four innings. Texas State loaded the bases with three straight singles.
8:52 p.m.: Alex Newton doubled and scored on Jenna Emery’s bloop single to tie the game at 2 after three innings
8:39 p.m.: Alex Colyer draws a bases-loaded walk to give the Lady Bears a 2-1 lead in the top of the third.
8:28 p.m.: Ryan Kos reached on a two-out bunt in the second and scored on Allyce Rother’s double off the right-field wall to tie the game at 1.
8:05 p.m.: Brette Reagan blasted a 2-0 pitch from Chandler Hall over the centerfield fence to give the Lady Bears a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.
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NCAA women’s tennis quarterfinals — No. 4 Baylor vs. No. 5 Notre Dame
No. 4 Baylor vs. No. 5 Notre Dame
First serve: 5 p.m. Sunday
George P. Mitchell Tennis Center
College Station, Texas
Records: Baylor 27-4; Notre Dame 27-4
Baylor
Coach: Joey Scrivano
Probable lineup (Record at position)
Singles
No. 1. 39 Taylor Ormond (10-13)
No. 2. 33 Lenka Broosova (19-0)
No. 3. 44 Jelena Stanivuk (13-1)
No. 4. 70 Csilla Borsanyi (10-1)
No. 5. Nina Secerbegovic (14-1)
No. 6. Kasia Siwosz (4-6)
Doubles
No. 1. 13 Broosova/Borsanyi (14-7)
No. 2. 65 Ormond/Stanivuk (16-5)
No. 3. Secerbegovic/Siwosz (11-6)
Notre Dame
Coach: Jay Louderback
Probable lineups (Record at position)
Singles
No. 1. 29 Kelcy Tefft (18-8)
No. 2. 38 Kristy Frilling (19-8)
No. 3. Cosmina Ciobanu (5-2)
No. 4. Shannon Mathews (8-1)
No. 5. Kali Krisik (5-0)
No. 6. Kristen Rafael (2-1)
Doubles
No. 1. 2 Frilling/Tefft (22-3)
No. 2. 64 Ciobanu/Krisik (17-6)
No. 3. Mathews/Colleen Rielley (10-2)
Baylor wins if … I hate to sound like a broken record, but until somebody beats one of Baylor’s 2-5 singles players, they’re going to be the key. The question remains, though, whether the Bears can win if one of them does falter. That’s a lot of pressure to put on four players to come up big in every match, but they’ve been equal to the task so far. Record-wise, the doubles favors Notre Dame, but Baylor took the point in their last meeting, a 5-2 win March 31. And two of Frilling and Tefft’s three losses came to Broosova and Borsanyi, 8-0 and 8-6. A 1-0 lead would go a long way, as even though Notre Dame is ranked fifth while Stanford is 13th, the Cardinal arguably has a stronger singles lineup.
Notre Dame wins if … it wins the doubles and can find a way to crack into the Bears’ stranglehold at 2-5 singles. It also wouldn’t hurt the Fighting Irish if Baylor is a little leg-weary from its epic marathon against Stanford on Friday night and into Saturday morning. If Baylor’s Stanivuk gets off to a slow start like she has the last couple matches, losing the first set in both, Notre Dame has to finish her off. Borsanyi was also vulnerable in her last match, and she might not be fully recovered from her 3-hour, 12-minute deciding match in the Sweet 16. Overall, Notre Dame should be the fresher team and it needs to take advantage of that, put the Bears down early and hope they’ll fold, even a little.
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Baylor softball on hold
The NCAA softball regional at Getterman Stadium is on hold due to rainy weather.
Three games are scheduled today beginning with Baylor against Texas State at 1:30 p.m., but they will be delayed.
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NCAA women’s tennis Sweet 16 — No. 4 Baylor vs. No. 13 Stanford
Scoreboard Singles 1. Ormond (BU) is defeated by Barte, 6-1, 7-5; 2. Broosova (BU) defeats Burdette, 6-3, 6-1; 3. Stanivuk (BU) defeats Nguyen, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1; 4. Borsanyi (BU) defeats Li, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4; 5. Secerbegovic (BU) defeats McVeigh, 7-6 (2), 6-2; 6. Siwosz (BU) is defeated by Hansen, 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 Order of finish: 2,3,1,5 (Baylor win, 4-3)
Doubles 1. Barte/Burdette defeat Broosova/Borsanyi, 8-6; 2. Ormond/Stanivuk (BU) vs. McVeigh/Nguyen, DNF; 3. Hansen/Li defeat Secerbegovic/Siwosz (BU), 8-1 Order of finish: 3,1 Stanford leads, 1-0
2:12: IT’S OVER!! Borsanyi hold serve and wins the third set, 6-4.
Jason’s going down for interviews. We’ll have a full report up on the Web site in a couple hours — Jason has to find somewhere to recharge his computer.
Thanks for hanging in there with us. Be back for the men’s match with Ohio State tomorrow, uh, later today now.
2:07: Li holds. It’s 5-4. Now Borsanyi’s serving for the match.
2:01: Borsanyi holds and leads 5-3. Going to have a shot to win the match here.
1:54: Borsanyi hits a great return at 30-40 and Li’s return was long. Another break, 4-3 Borsanyi. The first player to hold serve might win this match.
1:49: Borsanyi double-faults twice and is broken at love. 3-all.
1:43: It’s a returner’s match now, Jason says. Borsanyi breaks again for a 3-2 lead.
1:38: Borsanyi just hit a forehand long and was broken. 2-all now.
1:33: Borsanyi just broke for a 2-1 lead. Not to be dramatic — well, let’s be dramatic — the whole season is hanging on this match.
1:32: OK, guys. All I can say is, it’s late. Jason said the score he just heard was wrong. Siwosz was down 5-2, and now the set is over, 6-2 to Stanford. We apologize for all the confusion.
Just hearing over the phone, it is very loud.
It is Baylor’s Borsanyi vs. Stanford’s Li for the match. The winner’s team moves on. The loser’s goes home.
1:28: Borsanyi holds for 1-all in the third.
1:25: So it’s down to two matches. Baylor needs either Borsanyi or Siwosz to pull out their matches in the third set. Stanford has to win both.
1:23: Secerbegovic finishes off her match, 6-2 in the second.
1:16: Stanford’s Li holds in the first game of the third set on 4. Secerbegovic was broken, but still leads 5-2. Her opponent is taking an injury timeout.
1:13: Stanford’s Hansen got a break on 6 to take a 3-2 lead.
1:11: Jason says Secerbegovic is just not missing right now. If she finishes this off, Baylor needs to win just one of the last two matches.
1:10: Secerbegovic is one game from giving Baylor a 3-2 lead. She’s serving for the match at 5-1.
1:04: Secerbegovic just held to go to 4-1 in the second set, and Siwosz held to go to 2-1 in the third.
1:03: So, to recap if any night owls are just logging on:
Baylor and Stanford are tied 2-2, and three matches are still on the court.
Baylor and Stanford split sets on 4 and 6, and Baylor won the first set on 5 in a tiebreaker.
In short: This is an extrememly tight match.
1:02: Borsanyi won the second set, 6-2.
12:59: Sorry if we’re lacking a little detail here, but Jason’s computer died and he is dictating updates back to the office over the phone.
I don’t know what we’ll do if his phone dies, but we’re hanging in there.
12:58: Borsanyi is serving up 5-2 in the second. Siwosz just broke back. It’s 1-all there.
12:53: Secerbegovic is up 3-0 in the second, and Siwosz dumped serve to open the third set.
12:51: Secerbegovic is up 2-0 in the second, and Borsanyi is up 4-2 in the second.
12:44: Secerbegovic held to open the second set. Hansen won the second set on 6, 6-3, so they’re even now.
12:39: Secerbegovic wins the tiebreaker with a forehand that just painted the line, 7-2.
12:38: Borsanyi is up 3-1 now.
12:37: Siwosz is serving down 3-4 in the second. Borsanyi has a game point to go to 3-1 in the second.
12:36: Secerbegovic wins the first point of the tiebreaker, while Stanford comes back to even it at 1.
12:35: A net cord stays on McVeigh’s side, and she and Secerbegovic will go to a tiebreaker.
12:33: And it’s set point for Stanford on 5 at 30-40. Borsanyi is starting to find the range, but so is Hansen, who takes a 4-2 lead in the second.
12:32: Borsanyi is serving up 2-1 in the second, while Secerbegovic serves to stay in the first set at 6-5.
12:28: Siwosz has squandered her break lead in the second and now trails 3-2.
12:23: Secerbegovic pulls to deuce but double faults, as Borsanyi holds to 1-1. McVeigh breaks back to 5-5.
12:21: Secerbegovic gets a pair of points to pull within 30-40, serving for the set at 5-4.
12:19: A great long rally is decided by a McVeigh drop shot that falls in for a winner, and that is followed by a shot that falls just long for Secerbegovic.
12:17: Li holds to open the second set, and Borsanyi throws her racket up about 15 feet in the air. She is clearly not playing her game tonight.
12:15: Siwosz holds serve for a 2-0 lead, while Borsanyi and Li just started their second set. Hansen now holds to get to 2-1.
12:13: For some reason, Broosova keeps calling Secerbegovic “Larry.” I will have to get the story on that.
12:09: Borsanyi can’t complete the comeback, as she flies a backhand slice long, and Li has the first set, 6-4. Secerbegovics’ break advantage is gone and it’s 4-all.
12:05: Borsanyi tosses the ball away in disgust as Li hits a drop shot winner for 0-30, serving at 4-5.
12:04: Siwosz gets an early break in the second set for a 1-0 lead. Borsanyi is nearly all the way back in the first, as she now trails 5-4.
12:01 a.m.: As we cross the midnight hour, Borsanyi holds for 5-3 in the first set. Secerbegovic continues to hold a break advantage at 4-3.
11:58: Siwosz continues to roll, taking the first set, 6-1, while Borsanyi is acting like someone who is into the match now.
11:56: Borsanyi is still fighting in the first set, as it’s 5-2. The intensity is jumping, with the entire crowd erupting after every point on every court.
11:54: Secerbegovic just hit a nasty forehand crosscourt that forced McVeigh to hit the chair umpire. I hope to have some scores quickly.
11:49: It’s match point for Stanford on 1, and Barte wins it, 6-1, 7-5. Match is now tied at 2.
11:47: Secerbegovic gets a break and will serve with a 3-2 lead, while Siwosz and Hansen have traded holds of serve at 6. It’s 4-1 BU there. And Borsanyi is on the board, down 5-1.
11:45: Baylor takes a 2-1 lead as Stanivuk completes her comeback from a set down, while Barte holds on 1 for a 6-5 second-set lead. 11:42: Secerbegovic holds to stay on serve at 2-2, while Borsayni is serving, just trying to get anything positive going. Stanivuk has match point on 3.
11:39: Borsanyi is struggling to reel it in. She is missing long with everything. Siwosz is out to a 3-0 first-set lead and showing plenty of positive energy by jogging to the bench after taking the last game. Stanivuk is up 5-1, while Barte breaks back to 5-5 in the second.
11:36: Ormond gets a break on 1, and she will serve for the second set at 5-4.
11:34: Stanivuk is well on her way now, getting a second break with a crosscourt forehand winner. Everything’s going Li’s way on 4, as a net cord trickles over for a 4-0 advantage.
11:32: Broosova has become Stanivuk’s official cheerleader, as she’s jumping around and clapping with every point. Secerbegovic is broken back to 1-all. Siwosz has held to open the match at 6.
11:31: Borsanyi is off to an awful start on 4. She jumped out to a love-40 lead in the first game but has been rolled since. It’s 3-0.
11:29: Ormond continues to hang in her match, as she evens the second set with a hold of serve. It’s 4-4. Stanivuk maintains her break advantage in the third at 3-1.
11:26: The final match of the night gets started with Siwosz serving. Nguyen manages to hold serve to get within 2-1 in the third, while Borsanyi is in an early 2-0 hole.
11:23: Li climbs out of jail for a 1-0 lead on 4. Barte leads, 4-3.
11:20: Li digs out of two break points in the opening game. It’s deuce. Stanivuk keeps rolling, as Nguyen now appears to be completely befuddled by her variety of shots. McVeigh also gets out of a break chance to deuce.
11:18: Borsanyi and Li, and Secerbegovic and McVeigh are just under way, playing their first games. Ormond misses with a groundstroke, and it’s back even in the second set, 3-3. Stanivuk holds to 2-0.
11:16: Stanivuk opens the third set with a break of serve, while Ormond just fought off a break point.
11:14: Warmups continue on the grandstand, with Borsanyi and Li about to get going. Stanivuk is now reacting after each point, and even Scrivano, who usually doesn’t get too into things, is giving emphatic claps whenever Stanivuk scores a point.
11:11: Ormond gets a break for a 3-2 second-set advantage as the third set gets started on 3.
11:09: Ormond holds serve to 2-2, as Stanivuk closes out the second when Nguyen dumps an overhead into the net. Stanivuk and coach Joey Scrivano both give big fist pumps after that one.
11:08: Oops, I had that wrong. Stanivuk dumped serve to 5-2, and Nguyen held to 5-3. Stanivuk’s serving for the set for a second time.
11:05: I’m now being told that since the match on the grandstand side is over, with Notre Dame beating Clemson, 4-0, No. 4, 5 and 6 will be moved over there. Stanivuk dumps serve but still leads 5-3.
11:03: Nguyen holds at 3 to stay in the second set, down 5-2. Stanivuk to serve to level the match.
10:59: Burdette hits a shot long, and Broosova has evened the match with a 6-3, 6-1 victory. On 1, Barte holds for a 2-1 second-set lead. Borsanyi and Li will be the next to get started.
10:58: Stanivuk said it herself the other day after the Bears’ win over Stanford that she plays differently than any other Baylor player. She might have the most gears, and she’s showing them all in the second set with a 5-1 lead.
10:56: Burdette gets on the board in the second set, Broosova now serving for the match. Borsanyi is wandering around, getting loosened up as she’ll be the next on court for the Bears.
10:55: Stanivuk just made two very good gets and coaxed an overhead miss from Nguyen. Stanivuk is fully awake now after a poor first set.
10:53: Ormond breaks a seven-game run for Barte, while Nguyen and Stanivuk traded holds of serve for a 4-1 Stanivuk edge.
10:49: And Broosova’s one game from the finish line at 5-0, and Stanivuk just gave a fist pump to Borsanyi, Secerbegovic and Siwosz, who are waiting their turn on court.
10:47: Barte finally holds for a 1-0 lead on 1, while Broosova just keeps rolling along. We could have a 1-1 match soon. It’s 4-0 in the second set.
10:44: Ormond is hanging in Barte’s first serve game of the second set, while Stanivuk has raced to a 3-0 second-set lead. Momentum could be turning ever so slightly.
10:40: Broosova jumps up 3-0 in the second set, while Stanivuk breaks to open a 2-0 lead. I had a feeling that even though she didn’t complete the comeback in the first set that Stanivuk was starting to find her game. Whether she keeps it or not is the question now.
10:37: Broosova is taking control with a 2-0 lead. Stanivuk holds to open the second.
10:36: Barte finishes off the first set for Stanford, as does Nguyen, who was on the verge of falling into a 5-all tie after leading 5-1.
10:25: Nguyen has begun to serve and volley to foil Stanivuk’s blooper-ball strategy. She’s taken the last two points to even the game at 30-all. Ormond now trails, 5-1.
10:23: Stanivuk has quit hitting with Nguyen, instead taking the air out of the ball with looping groundstrokes. She forces an error on the first point of the 5-4 game.
10:20: Broosova actually puts the first first set for either team on the board, and Stanivuk has held to get back to 5-4. Ormond has an advantage to get back within 2-4.
10:18: The first set isn’t over yet on 3. Stanivuk breaks to 5-3 and will serve with a chance to put pressure on Nguyen to serve it out on her second try.
10:16: Stanivuk just gave a fist pump after winning a point. Could she be starting to get into the match? Broosova holds serve for a 5-3 lead.
10:15: Broosova is complaining to the chair about something. I think I heard Burdette actually say come on in the middle of a point. That’s the only thing I can think of that Broosova could be upset about.
10:08: Barte has Ormond on a string, running her around the court with a variety of shots and then hitting winners once she has the court opened. Stanivuk holds serve to stay in the first set, but still trails, 5-2.
10:04: Stanford just seems to be more in this match than Baylor right now. The Cardinal players are yelling let’s go or come on after every point they win, while very little is heard from the Bears, other than Broosova. Stanivuk looks incredibly frustrated, even making a mocking gesture after one of Nguyen’s latest screams.
10:03: Now Broosova is broken, but still leads, 4-2.
10:00: Stanivuk is really struggling, mishitting shots and making errors time and time again. Ormond double faults to give Barte a break and 2-1 lead.
9:57: Broosova is rolling early, up 4-1, but Ormond is starting to spray shots all over the place. That’s not good for Baylor, as it’s 15-30 at 1-1.
9:56: Barte hits two forehand winners just inside the line to finally even the match at 1-1.
9:54: Barte is a little lefty, maybe about 5-foot-5, but she’s standing in and trading bombs with the much more physically imposing Ormond. But she still can’t get out of her first service game. Staniuvk is now down 4-1 on Court 3.
9:51: Stanivuk is serving down, 3-1, while Ormond is very much in Barte’s opening service game. It’s deuce with Ormond leading 1-0, while Broosova has opened up a 3-1 lead.
9:44: The way I see it, Baylor badly needs to win two of the three matches on court right now. You don’t want any of the other three going on court knowing they absolutely have to win for Baylor to advance. As for the match itself, Stanivuk gets on the board and Ormond fights through a break point to hold for 1-0.
9:42: Broosova consolidates the break, and has an early 2-0 lead on 2, as does Nguyen on 3.
9:40: They’ve gone lo-tech for the scoreboards, as there are little tower-looking things with numbered slots as they go up to put tennis balls in. It’s an interesting setup for an NCAA match, but I guess you have to do the best you can with what you have.
9:38: Broosova breaks at love to open the match, while Ormond begins the match serving on 1.
9:37: Burdette to serve the opening game on Court 2. It looks like Stanivuk was broken in the opening game on 3.
9:35: They’ve started at 3, with Nguyen taking the first point after a long baseline rally.
9:29: The players are back on court, at least at 1, 2 and 3 singles. I see Borsanyi, Secerbegovic and Siwosz sitting and watching. I guess they’re going to play the first three and then put the other three on as needed.
9:23: It looks like we’re about to get the singles matches started, three on the stadium courts and three on the A&M Intramural courts. Stay with me as I try to figure out how I’m going to make this work.
9:20: Still not much to report here in Aggieland. On the grandstand court, where all the lights are on, No. 5 Notre Dame just won the doubles point over No. 12 Clemson. Tournament officials are talking to Baylor coach Joey Scrivano. Hopefully we’ll know something soon.
9:04: Well, we have lights — kind of. They are all powered up on the grandstand courts, where Notre Dame and Clemson are playing. But they are on at only three courts on the stadium side for Baylor and Stanford.
8:43: The lights are still out. Every once in a while there’s a flicker and everybody gets excited, only to have their hopes dashed. There are lights on the practice courts, and there’s talk of them moving the match over there. Stay tuned.
8:23: Well, we could have a little delay here getting started for singles. The lights just went out here. Hopefully this won’t take too long and we’ll get going soon.
8:08: You hate to put a loss on any official’s call, but the overrule on a call at 6-all, 40-30 that kept Stanford in that game was a turning point. The Bears dropped that game and the next for the match.
The Bears have been here before, as SMU took the doubles point against them in the second round Sunday. Baylor rebounded for a 4-2 win. We will see if they can come back again.
8:06: Borsanyi misses a forehand wide, and Stanford wins at 1, 8-6, and takes a 1-0 lead with the doubles point. We’ll have about a 10-minute break before singles gets started.
8:04: Finally, a break on two, as Ormond’s solid deep return sets up Stanivuk to angle off a backhand volley and give them a 6-5 lead at 2. Stanford fights off a pair of break points, and it’s deuce.
8:02: Baylor keeps getting chances to break on 2. Let’s see now if they can finally cash one in as it’s 15-40. And the Bears also have a chance to break on 1 to stay in the match, but Burdette puts away an easy volley for deuce.
7:58: Stanford is a game away from the doubles point as the Bears blow a 40-0 lead. It’s 7-6 on 1 after the fifth straight break of serve. No problem with that on 2, as it’s 5-all after Baylor holds at love.
7:56: Broosova calls a ball out on 1, but it’s overruled by the chair, and it’s deuce at 6-all, while Stanford stays on serve at 2, 5-4, on 2.
7:53: The streak of holds continues on 2, as the Bears even it up on 2, 4-all. Broosova is a point away from breaking the four-game break streak, 40-0.
7:52: A match that got all the way to 4-all with only holds of serve has now seen four straight breaks, and it’s 6-6 on 1.
7:48: Finally, Stanford gets Stanivuk to net a volley, and it’s 4-3. It’s still on serve there, as neither team has found a way to break.
7:46: Barte’s return of a Borsanyi serve lands just inside the baseline, and it’s another break for Stanford and a 6-5 lead on 1. The Cardinal are two games from the doubles point. They’re STILL tied at 3-3 on 2.
7:45: A lucky break saves the Bears on 1. Broosova clips the tape with a shot, and it bounces over Barte’s racket for a winner to get the game to deuce.
7:43: They’re playing the game that won’t end on 2. It’s deuce again, and that’s probably about 10 of them.
7:40: Burdette missed a volley long and the Bears are right back on serve at 5-5 on 1. Borsanyi will serve for the lead.
7:39: The Bears get two chances to break back at 1, but Borsanyi misses the first on a backhand return error on a second serve by Barte. It’s still 30-40. Baylor also has a break point on 2 for the lead.
7:35: And the Bears are broken at 1 on a nice return by Barte, while it’s deuce at 3-all on 2.
7:33: Borsanyi flies a volley, and Broosova is serving down 0-40 at 4-4. It’s over on 3, with Hansen and Li taking an 8-1 victory over Secerbegovic and Siwosz.
7:32: And Stanford comes all the way back, as Borsanyi nets a forehand volley for a 4-4 score.
7:31: But Stanford swats them away, and it’s deuce. Meanwhile, on 2, Baylor holds to 3-all, and it’s 7-1 on 3.
7:29: Baylor has two break chances on 1 after Barte double faults.
7:27: Time’s running out on 3, as Stanford goes up 6-1. The other two matches are cruising along on serve, with neither team recording a break yet. Stanford keeps that streak alive to go up 3-2 on 2.
7:24: The Bears have yet to hold serve on 3, as they are broken again and trail 5-1. Borsanyi is serving up 40-0 at 3-all.
7:21: Stanivuk just showed off her agility, getting out of the way of a Stanford volley that ended up flying long and then angles off a backhand volley to make it a 2-2 score. Barte has held at 1 to keep that match tied, 3-3.
7:18: A pair of Broosova serves set up Borsanyi for easy overheads, and the Bears take a 3-2 lead at 1. The Cardinal are already halfway home on 3, leading 4-1.
7:15: Borsanyi flies a backhand, and the match at 1 stays on serve, 2-2, while Stanford breaks again at 3 to take a 3-1 lead.
7:13: Stanivuk gets a routine hold to even that match at 1, while Secerbegovic is serving to level it on 3.
7:11: Borsanyi holds serve as Stanford misses on a pair of returns and Broosova knocks off a tough overhead. It’s 2-1 Bears on 1.
7:09: Li knocks off a volley, as the Cardinal hold at 2 after a long game to take a 1-0 lead. Secerbegovic and Siwosz are struggling with their returns, but Siwosz just found a nice angle with a backhand return to get on the board and back on serve, down 2-1.
7:05: It’s a very pleasant night here in Aggieland temperature-wise, but the wind is howling. Ormond just threw up a lob that should’ve reached at least the service line on the other side of the net, but it was knocked down and didn’t reach the net.
7:03: And Stanford is on the board first, with an easy hold of serve to go up 1-0. The Bears are also receiving on 2, while Broosova is serving on 1.
6:55: As the teams finish warmups for doubles, I’ll go ahead and remind you that the sixth-ranked Baylor men will face No. 3 Ohio State at 4 p.m. tomorrow. Preview capsules for that match are now online on the Bear Blog.
6:50: Baylor has taken the court to get ready for doubles competition, as Northwestern has completed its 4-0 win over Fresno State. And now the Stanford players are coming to join the Bears.
6:01 p.m.: The Baylor-Stanford match will start later than the scheduled 6 p.m. first serve, as top-seeded Northwestern takes on No. 16 Fresno State on the stadium courts, which is where the Bears and Cardinal will meet. Hopefully, the tournament will be run like it was yesterday, which was when there were three singles courts available, the doubles for the next match began. We’ll see what happens, and I’ll be back with lineups soon.
6:25: It looks like Northwestern is closing in on a victory over Fresno State, so let’s go ahead and set the lineups for the Baylor-Stanford match.
Singles
No. 1. 39 Taylor Ormond (BU) vs. 7 Hilary Barte
No. 2. 33 Lenka Broosova (BU) vs. 88 Lindsay Burdette
No. 3. 44 Jelena Stanivuk (BU) vs. 73 Jessica Nguyen
No. 4. 70 Csilla Borsanyi (BU) vs. Veronica Li
No. 5. Nina Secerbegovic (BU) vs. 101 Carolyn McVeigh
No. 6. Kasia Siwosz (BU) vs. Logan Hansen
Doubles
No. 1. 13 Broosova/Borsanyi (BU) vs. 8 Barte/Burdette
No. 2. 65 Ormond/Stanivuk (BU) vs. 38 McVeigh/Nguyen
No. 3. Secerbegovic/Siwosz (BU) vs. Hansen/Li
As I said in the capsules, which appeared on the Bear Blog on Wednesday, the Bears have been lights out from 2-5 in singles. Stanford will have to find a way to break at least one of those players’ long winning streaks to win. McVeigh figures to be a step up in competition from what Secerbegovic is used to. How she responds to that challenge could go a long way to deciding the match.
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Baylor beats Louisiana-Lafayette 2-1
9:21 p.m.: Canion retires the side in the seventh to finish off Baylor’s 2-1 win over Louisiana-Lafayette.
9:15 p.m.: Bree Hanafin scores from second base when shortstop Codi Runyan threw wildly to first base after fielding Alex Colyer’s grounder to give Baylor a 2-1 lead. Hanafin hit a one-out double off the left-field wall to start the rally.
8:59 p.m.: Louisiana-Lafayette put two runners on base but Canion got out of trouble by forcing Vallie Gaspard to ground out to end the inning
8:49 p.m.: Sydney Wilson hit a run-scoring single to tie the game at 1-1. But Baylor missed a chance to go ahead when Jordan Vannatta missed a bunt and Nicole Wesley was caught in a rundown between home and third for the second out.
8:39 p.m.: Canion struck out the side in the top of the fifth to record her 400th strikeout of the season.
8:32 p.m.: Bree Hanafin leads off the fourth with Baylor’s first hit, but Brette Reagan grounds into a double play and Alex Colyer lines out to shortstop.
8:26 p.m.: The Cajuns put two more runners on base but Canion strikes out Karli Hubbard to end the inning.
8:16 p.m.: BU goes 1-2-3 in the third. Donna Bourgeois has a no-hitter through three innings.
8:12 p.m.: The Ragin’ Cajuns put runners on first and third in the top of the third as Karli Hubbard singled and Christi Orgeron walked, but Whitney Canion struck out Gabriele Bridges to end the threat.
7:45 p.m.: Codi Runyan hit a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to give Louisiana-Lafayette a 1-0 lead over Baylor in the top of the first in NCAA regional softball at Getterman Stadium.
The Ragin’ Cajuns loaded the bases with no outs after Vallie Gaspard and Karli Hubbard singled and Melissa Verde walked.
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Texas State run-rules Northwestern
The NCAA regional at Getterman Stadium is only one game old, and there’s already been a shocker as Texas State run-ruled No. 12 national seed Northwestern, 8-0.
The Bobcats took advantage of 11 walks by Northwestern pitcher Lauren Delaney.
Texas State erupted for six fourth-inning runs after Delaney (29-11) walked the first three batters. Two runs scored when catcher Erin Dyer dropped throws at home before Jenna Emery and McKenzie Baack delivered run-scoring singles. The Bobcats finished the game with four hits.
Bobcats pitcher Chandler Hall (25-9) threw a one-hitter while walking three and striking out three.
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NCAA men’s tournament capsules: No. 6 Baylor vs. No. 3 Ohio State
No. 6 Baylor vs. No. 3 Ohio State
First serve: 4 p.m. Saturday
George P. Mitchell Tennis Center
College Station, Texas
Records: Baylor 26-5; Wake Forest 32-1
Baylor Coach: Matt Knoll
Probable lineups
Singles (Record at position)
No. 1. 4 Denes Lukacs (21-5)
No. 2. 45 Jordan Rux (15-8)
No. 3. Julian Bley (9-7)
No. 4. 124 Dominik Mueller (13-4)
No. 5. 121 Attila Bucko (12-5)
No. 6. Maros Horny (20-5)
Doubles
No. 1. 18 Rux/David Galic (13-6)
No. 2. 64 Horny/Lukacs (12-4)
No. 3. Bley/Mueller (11-4)
Ohio State
Coach: Ty Tucker
Probable lineups
Singles (Record at position)
No. 1. 3 Bryan Koniecko (20-4)
No. 2. 9 Steven Moneke (12-1)
No. 3. 25 Justin Kronauge (13-1)
No. 4. 113 Matt Allare (11-0)
No. 5. 74 Balazs Novak (16-1)
No. 6. Chase Buchanan (4-0)
Doubles
No. 1. Kronauge/Allare (8-5)
No. 2. 61 Novak/Moneke (7-0)
No. 3. Shuhei Uzawa/Koniecko (13-0)
Baylor wins if … it takes advantage of the things in its favor. The Bears will hope for hot and windy conditions and hope that will take its toll on the Buckeyes, a team with an insane level of talent but who play their home matches indoors. If Uzawa, ranked No. 98, plays singles, Ohio State will have a ranked player at each spot. Baylor must get wins from doubles, and No. 1 and 6 singles and find a way to get one more point on the board. There is no doubt that the Bears are the underdog, based on Ohio State’s 7-0 win over them March 1. But this Baylor team is far better than it was at that point, and the longer the match goes, the better its chances. Ohio State hasn’t been tested much, so it will be interesting to see how it responds if pushed.
Ohio State wins if … it plays well, plain and simple. Baylor coach Matt Knoll said after Thursday’s win over Wake Forest that he believes the Buckeyes are arguably the most talented team in the country, and he might be right. They have lost only one match this season and have really blown teams out. If Uzawa plays, the Buckeyes will have a higher ranked player at every spot. Winning the doubles wouldn’t decide the match, but Baylor would find it difficult to take four of six singles matches against a team with as stacked of a lineup at Ohio State.
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NCAA tournament, men’s Sweet 16 — No. 6 Baylor vs. No. 18 Wake Forest
7:04: Baylor’s toughness showed up today. They were down in the doubles but came back to win that and then fought hard on every court in singles. They had a hiccup with Attila Bucko’s loss, but Maros Horny’s win to make it 2-0 really set the stage for the Bears’ win. When Mueller won his first set in a tiebreaker, it really seemed to break Hopkins a little, as it gave the Bears four first sets after winning the doubles and really put them on the inside track for victory.
7:02: Mueller knocks off a volley, and it’s over. He wins his match, 7-6 (4), 6-2, to put Baylor in the quarterfinals with a 4-1 win over No. 18 Wake Forest.
7:01: Now it’s 30-0, and 40-0 after Hopkins misses a return.
7:00: Mueller serving to send Baylor to the quarterfinals, and wins the first point when Hopkins puts a backhand in the net after an extended rally.
6:58: Rux just took a 3-0 lead in the third set, while Hopkins holds to keep Wake Forest alive. They still haven’t started the third set in the Bley-Wolff match.
6:55: The Bley-Wolff match is being moved to Court 6, so that the Miami-UCLA doubles can get under way. I wouldn’t imagine the court change will mean much, but you never know. Of course, it might not matter at all, as Mueller leads 5-1 in the second set after taking the first in a tie breaker. One more game and it’s all over.
6:52: Sorry for the brief delay, I got kicked off the blog for some reason. Anyway, Bley just took the second set, 6-3, after Wolff took the first, 6-3. Rux consolidated a break in the first game of the third set and now leads 2-0, while Mueller has a 4-1 lead and serving in the second set at 4.
6:44: Rux holds to open the deciding set, while Hopkins holds to get back within 2-1.
6:43: Bley does break to 5-3, and it looks like the Wake trainer is going to look at Wolff. Yes, it’s a medical timeout for Wake.
6:41: Another unlucky net cord for Wolff, another point for Bley. This time the ball kicked off the tape and out wide.
6:40: An unlucky net cord for Wolff sets up a nice crosscourt forehand for Bley and a chance to break at 4-3 in the second. But a backhand clips the tape and stays on Bley’s side for deuce.
6:39: Forman’s definitely got a pep in his step now after winning the second set, 6-3, to even the match. Rux won the first, 6-3.
6:37: Forman is funny to watch because he’ll really start to get a swagger about him after a good shot as he’s walking to the other side of the court. Kind of reminds me of Marat Safin, and they’re probably about the same size, too.
6:35: And Bley isn’t going away either. He’s up 4-3 on serve in the second set. If nothing else, he’s making Wolff work to finish him off, being tough, which is what coach Matt Knoll has been wanting all year. Mueller finally gets a big hold for a 2-0 second-set advantage.
6:34: Rux is hanging in there in the second set. He’s down 5-3 with Forman serving, but the Baylor sophomore has won the first two points for an 0-30 advantage.
6:32: There have been four breaks of serve in a row on 4, and Mueller just swatted away a break point. A friend of mine and I have a joke that sometimes our matches are on break instead of on serve. I think that might be how I have to start looking at that match.
6:29: I’ve kind of neglected the Bley match for awhile. He’s up 3-2 on serve in the second set after dropping the first, 6-3.
6:28: Mueller’s got some momentum going now, as he breaks in the opening game of the second set to take a 1-0 lead after winning the first in a tiebreaker. Rux is facing set points against him on 2, down 5-1.
6:23: One more big 1-2 for Lukacs, as he blasts a serve, and knocks off Parr’s short reply with a forehand to give the Bears’ No. 1 a 6-2, 6-2 win and put Baylor ahead, 3-1.
6:21: Another Baylor slow clap, as it’s 40-0 for Lukacs. Triple match point for a 3-1 Baylor lead.
6:20: Horny smashes an ace, and it’s over at 6. Horny wins, 6-0, 6-3, to give the Bears a 2-0 lead. But Wake has a pair of match points on 5. Now that’s over, as Atkinson takes a 6-1, 6-4 win over Bucko to make it 2-1. Mueller watches a Hopkins shot sail and he wins the tiebreaker, 7-4, for a 7-6 first-set win.
Meanwhile, Lukacs breaks at love, and is about to serve for the match. He hasn’t let Parr into any of his service games in the second set, so this one looks good for the Bears.
6:19: Lukacs is rolling on his service game, with three quick points for a 40-0 lead before a double fault on the next point before closing it with an ace.
6:17: Morgenstern holds to 5-3, and Rux is down a break in the second, 3-1, after winning the first, 6-3.
6:15: Lukacs crushes a return to set up a point in which he had Parr on the defensive the entire time and finishes it off with a drop volley for a break and 3-2 lead in the second set. Morgenstern is serving to stay in the match with Horny, down 5-2 in the second, while Bucko is serving to do the same at 5, down 5-3.
6:12: Lukacs overcomes a rough early part of the game to hold for a 2-2 score. Mueller has three break chances to take his match with Hopkins into a first-set tiebreaker and comes through with a break at love to even the first set at 6-all. The pace of play in the Lukacs-Parr match has slowed significantly, but the quality is still very high.
6:10: Back to our featured match, where Lukacs is serving down 2-1 in the second set. It’s 15-all after a second set. Lukacs complained about the call, which was a good one. Parr was obviously unhappy with Lukacs’ complaint, saying “This guy’s a joke.”
6:07: Horny is two games away from victory at 4-2 in the second, but the surprises of the day so far are at 4 and 5. Wake has Hopkins and Atkinson in those spots, and both have losing records while playing in those positions but both lead today. Hopkins is ahead of Mueller by a break at 6-5, while Atkinson is rolling Bucko, 6-1, 4-2.
6:03: As we pass the 6 o’clock hour, the matches scheduled for this time are No. 2 Mississippi vs. No. 15 Texas A&M; and No. 7 UCLA vs. No. 22 Miami. Neither will likely get on the court in the next hour at least.
Lukacs held to even the second set at 1.
6:00: Another look around reveals: No. 2. Rux still leads, 6-3 and is battling in Forman’s service game to open the second set; 3. Wolff has the first set over Bley, 6-3; 4. Hopkins is up 5-4 on Mueller, up a break in the first; 5. Atkinson leads Bucko, 6-1, 3-1. That’s a surprise to me. I thought Bucko would play much better in that matchup; 6. Horny leads 6-0, 3-2, on serve in the second.
Lukacs is scuffling a little on his groundstrokes, and Parr has a break point to take an early lead in the second, 30-40.
5:57: Conditions are a little strange as the wind will be fairly still and then all of a sudden there will be a pretty good gust. I wonder how it’s affecting the players, if at all.
Lukacs continues to pounce on Parr’s second serve. After another forehand return winner, Parr said something to the effect of he’s killing you on that. It’s true, but Parr digs deep to hold for a 1-0 lead in the second.
5:54: Lukacs clips the line with a forehand that completed the 1-2 with a big first serve, and now he’s got two set points, 40-15. And there it is, as he throws a slider of a serve out wide for an ace. Parr hasn’t been able to do much on Lukacs’ serve, but he’s ranked No. 10 in the nation for a reason. We’ll have to see how he adjusts.
By the way, the reason I mentioned the Ohio State-Boise State match is that the winner of that match will meet the winner of this one in the quarterfinals Saturday. Baylor faced the Buckeyes early in the season, with Ohio State taking a 7-0 win on its home court. But that was at a time when the Bears were struggling and indoors, which is a Baylor nemesis.
5:52: Lukacs’ second serve is nasty today. He just hit his second ace with it and then follows with a big first for a quick 30-0 lead. He’s two points away from the set, while Rux wins his, 6-3.
5:50: Wolff holds to 5-2, so Lukacs will serve for the first set. It would be big for Baylor if Horny can go ahead and finish off his match and give the Bears a 2-0 lead. That would put the underdog Demon Deacons in a situation of having to win four of the remaining five points, always a daunting challenge.
5:48: Time for a quick look down the line: No. 2. Rux leads 5-2 and just had a set point but missed the return to deuce. No. 3: Wolff leads Bley, 5-1; 4. Hopkins leads Mueller 4-3, up a break; 5. Atkinson leads Bucko, 6-1, and took an early break in the second set for a 1-0 lead; 6. Horny leads, 6-0, 2-1.
5:46: Lukacs fights off another break point, keeping Parr on the run before the Demon Deacon misses a forehand wide. That gives Lukacs the advantage, and Parr misses his return on the next point for a 5-1 Lukacs lead.
5:44: Lukacs shows some smarts, as he takes some extra time between points at 15-40, then hits good first serves on the next two points to climb out of the hole. It’s deuce.
5:43: A double fault follows an ace for Lukacs, and it’s 15-40, two chances for Parr to get closer in the set.
5:41: Wake’s Atkinson takes the first set, 6-1, on 5, while Lukacs nets a forehand to fall down 0-30. He’s up a double break, but it wouldn’t be wise to let Parr get any momentum going.
5:38: Parr just knocked off a volley with a very awkward-looking shot as the racket was all the way across his head, but with a forehand grip. Strange, but it worked. Parr then gets on the board with his second ace, 4-1.
5:36: Horny has put the first set in his pocket, 6-0, while Atkinson appears well on his way to winning the first set over Bucko. It’s 5-1 on Court 5.
5:34: It’s awfully quiet here. I wonder if people are afraid to say anything after the incident that resulted in a Baylor fan being tossed earlier. Lukacs finishes a routine hold with a second-serve ace for a 4-0 advantage.
5:31: A well-constructed point from Lukacs as he uses a forehand to open up the court and then steps in and finished off a volley. Parr double-faults on the next point, and it’s 3-0 Lukacs.
On 2, Rux leads 3-0 with Forman serving up 40-15; 3. Wolff leads, 3-0; 4. Mueller leads 2-1 on serve with Hopkins serving up 40-30; 5. Atkinson leads 4-1 with Bucko serving up 15-0; 6. Horny leads 5-0.
5:29: Parr tries coming in but can’t handle a Lukacs forehand right at him, and the Baylor No. 1 has a break point for a 3-0 lead. But Parr smacks a service winner to get it back to deuce.
5:27: Lukacs is hitting everything as hard as he can, and he’s missed a few here in the third game, giving Parr a chance to hold and get on the board, 40-30.
5:24: In other action earlier, top-ranked and undefeated Virginia ousted No. 16 Florida State, 4-2. No. 3 Ohio State and No. 25 Boise State are battling on the other side of the complex, as Lukacs holds for a 2-0 lead.
5:22: Lukacs has fought off a break point in his opening service game and then dumped a game point. He’s got another one as Parr misses a backhand wide after a long rally in which Lukacs pinned him 3 feet behind the baseline.
5:19: This match figures to be a must-win for Wake Forest. I just think Baylor has the goods on the Demon Deacons on too many other courts.
A quick look around as Lukacs takes his time between serving points. No. 2, Rux leads 1-0 on serve; 3. Wolff leads 1-0 on serve. By the way, I think 3 is the spot where Wake absolutely can’t lose and still win the match. 4. Mueller leads 1-0 on serve. 5. Atkinson leads 2-0; 6. Horny leads 1-0 up a break.
5:17: And Lukacs gets the early break. It’s early, but Lukacs looked very sharp in that opening return game. We’ll have to see what Parr can do to offset Lukacs’ power.
5:14: This match figures to be a contrast in styles, as the left-handed Parr appears to use variety and placement to his advantage, while Lukacs generally hits everything as hard as he can. Just as I say it, Parr throws in an ace. But Lukacs has an early break point after a huge forehand return winner. It’s 30-40.
5:13: They’re just finishing warmups. Our featured match for today will be at the No. 1 singles line, a top-10 matchup between Lukacs and Parr, who will serve first.
5:09: With singles play about 5 minutes away, let’s set the lineups.
No. 1 (4) Denes Lukacs (BU) vs. (10) Cory Parr
No. 2 (45) Jordan Rux (BU) vs. Steve Forman
No. 3 Julian Bley (BU) vs. Jon Wolff
No. 4 (124) Dominik Mueller (BU) vs. David Hopkins
No. 5 (121) Attila Bucko (BU) vs. Iain Atkinson
No. 6 Maros Horny (BU) vs. Jason Morgenstern
5:08: That could be a crushing blow for Wake, not just because it didn’t get the point it will likely desperately need, but because of just how close the Demon Deacons were. It would take a big upset on a couple singles courts for Wake to win the match now.
5:07: Baylor gets it done. A Mueller serve sets up Bley, who angles off the volley for the winner and gives the Bears a 1-0 lead with the 9-7 win.
5:06: Not over yet, as Bley bricks a volley. 40-30
5:05: Hopkins nets a return, and the slow clap for match point begins, 40-0. Momentary reprieve for Wake as Mueller flies a volley.
5:04: Wolff misses a backhand pass into the net, and it’s 30-0.
5:03: Three points away as a good Mueller serve sets up an easy kill for Bley at the net, 15-0.
5:02: Baylor has a break point and will face a second serve from Wolff. And a brilliant play by Bley gives the Bears the 8-7 lead. During a long extended rally between Wolff and Mueller, Bley snuck in from the baseline and poached a volley that Hopkins couldn’t handle. Just a great play by the freshman, and Mueller will now serve for the match.
4:59: So Wolff jumps in, pounding a short volley from Baylor for a winner to make it 30-all.
4:57: Baylor is picking on Hopkins, who just missed another forehand and a volley to put the Demon Deacons in a 15-30 hole serving at 7-all.
4:55: Hopkins hits another backhand long. Wake disputes the call, but it’s upheld by the chair umpire, and the Bears have dug out of their deficit.
4:53: Hopkins flies a backhand and Baylor has a point to even it at 7.
4:49: Mueller just had a very solid game, as another exchange of crosscourt forehands, this time with Hopkins, ends with Hopkins putting one into the net. They’re back on serve, with Baylor trailing, 7-6. Bley will toe the line for the Bears.
4:47: An extended exchange of crosscourt forehands between Mueller and Wolff results in Wolff mishitting one long. It’s now 15-40 after Wolff puts a volley into the net. Two chances for the Bears to get back on serve.
4:45: Hopefully things will stay straightened out from here on. Baylor got a crucial first point on a Bley volley, but Bley follows by missing a return into the net. It’s 15-all.
4:42: OK, well I did get bad information. Bley misses a forehand volley wide, and Wake breaks for a 7-5 lead and is one game from a 1-0 advantage in the match.
4:40: Anxious moment as Mueller shanks a second serve into the net for a double point. It’s now deuce.
4:37: Well, now it’s even and all up to 3. Lukacs and Horny just finished off an 8-3 win on 2 to pull the Bears even in the doubles point. Mueller is serving at 40-30 with Baylor leading, 6-5.
4:35: It’s over on 1, with the sixth-ranked team of Parr and Forman dumping the 18th-ranked pair of Galic and Rux, 8-3. Baylor came out ripping the ball and playing aggressively, but they were soon overwhelmed by the Demon Deacons’ consistency and ability to take advantage of opportunities. It won’t matter though if the Bears keep going on the other two courts.
4:33: OK I either just got some bad information or the scoreboards, which were just turned back on and appear to be working, are still wrong. Wake leads 7-3, 30-0 on 1, Baylor leads 7-3 on 2, and Wake is ahead 7-5 on 3, according to the boards. But Wake just held on 3, and the chair umpire announced it as 6-5 Baylor. So there we go.
4:31: Baylor seems unsure of itself on 1. Rux and Galic just had a point where they had about three shots to put the point away and couldn’t do it, then put a volley in the net.
4:28: All I know is that I hope they get the boards working for singles. If not, life could get very difficult. Baylor is one game away from winning at 2, 7-3. It’s 5-all on 3, and Wake is up 6-3 on 1. Parr and Forman are forcing Rux and Galic into errors all over the place right now.
OK, just got an update from 3, where Baylor actually leads 6-4. So with the Bears leading 7-4 now on 2, they are in the driver’s seat.
4:25: Now all the scoreboards are showing wrong scores. This could get interesting. Wake just went up 5-3 on 1 with a break, while it’s 6-3 on 2. I’m not sure what happened in the last game on 3. I think Wake held for a 5-4 lead.
4:22: Lukacs splits the Wake Forest pair at 2 with a backhand, and Baylor has a point for a double-break advantage, while the Bears have pulled even at 4-all at 3. Momentum is starting to swing Baylor’s way it seems, as the Bears do take the 6-3 lead at 2.
4:18: The chair umpire is a little off on 1. The scoreboard says 5-4, but it’s actually 3-3. Not sure what’s going on there. Over at 3, Bley nailed a Wake player with a shot on break point. That put the Bears back on serve, trailing 4-3 with Mueller about to serve.
4:12: I think my timestamp might be a little off. Oh well, it’s much more pleasant here now that the fans are only cheering for the teams and nobody’s crossing the line, although there are people behind me still talking about the incident.
As for the action on the court, Wake just had a routine hold on 1 to pull ahead 3-2. Baylor still leads at 2, up 4-3 and serving, while it’s 4-2 Wake, but a deuce game on the Demon Deacons’ serve. A break here and Baylor would be right back in the match.
4:01: Rux puts a volley into the bottom of the net, and it’s back even at 2-all on 1. It’s a good battle here with both teams serving big and hitting winner after winner. It will be interesting to see how this one plays out.
Over at 2, Lukacs hits a service winner to put the Bears up 4-2, while Wake is about to serve with a 4-2 lead on 3.
3:59:A Baylor fan was just kicked out after crossing the line of just cheering on the Bears by talking directly to the Wake Forest players. It caused a short disturbance in the stands and play to be halted on Court 1 as he argued with security personnel.
Anyway, we’re back to action. Baylor is now up a break on 1, and Galic is serving at 2-1 deuce. Baylor is also up a break at 3-2 on 2, while Mueller and Bley just got on the board at 3. It’s 3-1 there.
3:54: Wake keeps getting break chances but Baylor keeps coming back. A Rux ace and Galic overhead swat away 2 more breakers, and another Rux ace gives Baylor the game. It’s 1-1 at 1, still on serve at 2-1 on 2, while Wake has opened up a 3-0 lead on 3.
3:52: Rux is serving down a break point at 30-40 as he can’t handle a Forman return at his feet as he charged to the net. But Galic swats away the break chance with a tough overhead.
3:50: Mueller flies a forehand volley long and it’s 2-0 Wake on 3, while a Lukacs ace puts Baylor on the board at 2. It’s 1-1 there.
3:47: And Wake Forest holds on all three courts to open the match. Strong serving from the Demon Deacons set up several weak returns and easy overheads on all three courts.
As I mentioned in my match preview capsules yesterday, also here on the Bear blog, the doubles is crucial for Wake Forest. I think it’s just another point for Baylor. They won’t be panicked if they drop the opening point.
3:46: And we’re under way, with Wake Forest serving to open on all three courts.
3:32: They’re not messing around here. The USC-Stanford match is still going, but the matches on 2,4 and 6 are done and those courts are all together so they’re putting the Baylor-Wake Forest doubles matches on.
They’re about to begin warmups, so let’s set the lineups.
No. 1 (18) David Galic/Jordan Rux (BU) vs. (6) Cory Parr/Steve Forman
No. 2 (64) Maros Horny/Denes Lukacs (BU) vs. Carlos Salmon/Iain Atkinson
No. 3 Julian Bley/Dominik Mueller (BU) vs. Jon Wolff/David Hopkins
3:31: We’re coming down to the end here in the USC-Stanford match. USC’s Robert Farrah has a 4-3 lead over Alex Clayton at No. 1, up a break in the third. If he serves it out, it will give the Trojans the clinching point.
3:11 p.m.: We’re not going to get started any time soon. USC and Stanford are living up to the close rankings, as they have split sets in all but two of the singles matches. And in the other two, they’re in a second-set tiebreaker on one and the other is on a set point to go to a third.
2:48 p.m.: Welcome to George P. Mitchell Tennis Center on the campus of Texas A&M in College Station for this live blog of the NCAA tournament men’s Sweet 16 match between No. 6 Baylor and No. 18 Wake Forest. This is Jason Orts courtside to bring you the action.
It looks like we’re going to get off to a late start here today, as Pac-10 rivals No. 8 USC and No. 9 Stanford are doing battle on the back courts, which is where Baylor will be playing. On the front courts right now, a pair of ACC foes, top-ranked Virginia and No. 16 Florida State are going at it.
Earlier today, No. 4 Georgia escaped No. 13 Illinois, 4-3, while No. 12 Texas upset No. 5 Tennessee, 4-3. Georgia and Texas will meet in the quarterfinals Saturday, a rematch of last year’s national championship encounter, won by the Bulldogs.
It’s a warm, humid and windy day in College Station today, but you’d hardly expect anything different on a mid-May day along the Brazos River.
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NCAA women’s tournament capsules: No. 4 Baylor vs. No. 13 Stanford
No. 4 Baylor vs. No. 13 Stanford
First serve: 6 p.m. Friday
George P. Mitchell Tennis Center
College Station, Texas
Records: Baylor 26-4; Stanford 19-4
Baylor
Coach: Joey Scrivano
Probable lineup (Record at position)
Singles
No. 1. 39 Taylor Ormond (10-12)
No. 2. 33 Lenka Broosova (18-0)
No. 3. 44 Jelena Stanivuk (12-1)
No. 4. 70 Csilla Borsanyi (9-1)
No. 5. Nina Secerbegovic (13-1)
No. 6. Kasia Siwosz (4-5)
Doubles
No. 1. 13 Broosova/Borsanyi (14-6)
No. 2. 65 Ormond/Stanivuk (16-5)
No. 3. Secerbegovic/Siwosz (11-5)
Stanford
Coach: Lele Forood
Probable lineups (Record at position)
Singles
No. 1. 7 Hilary Barte (21-1)
No. 2. 88 Lindsay Burdette (10-4)
No. 3. 73 Jessica Nguyen (11-1)
No. 4. 101 Veronica Li (11-3)
No. 5. Carolyn McVeigh (6-1)
No. 6. Logan Hansen (4-4)
Doubles
No. 1. 8 Barte/Burdette (19-4)
No. 2. 38 Nguyen/McVeigh (17-4)
No. 3. Hansen/Li (10-2)
Baylor wins if … its 2-5 singles players continue the tear they are on. Broosova has won 17 straight; Stanivuk, 15; Borsanyi, 18; and Secerbegovic, 19, and that quartet put all of the Bears’ points on the board in a 4-2 win over No. 23 SMU on Sunday. Stanford will be out for revenge after the Bears beat the Cardinal, 4-1, in last year’s NCAA quarterfinal, meaning Baylor will need to match Stanford’s intensity in the doubles and early on in the singles. Winning the doubles would put the Bears in the driver’s seat immediately, as Stanford would have to at least split the matches on courts 2-5.
Stanford wins if … It takes advantage of Baylor’s holes. The Cardinal figures to have a decided edge in doubles and at No. 1 singles, while No. 6 singles is also a vulnerable spot for the Bears. If Barte takes care of business quickly, it could give Stanford a 2-0 lead and apply a huge amount of pressure to Baylor. It would also quiet what should be a pro-Baylor crowd in College Station. The Stanivuk-Nguyen match should be one to watch, as it would likely be the deciding point if all the others go to the clear favorites.
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Is Danielle Wilson with him?
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….it’s time to sever the head …..
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can’t wait till next year
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HOPEFULLY…….KENDAL VOLZ WILL GO PRO WITH THE PROFESSIONAL T-BALL LEAVE THIS YEAR…..
TOO MUCH HYPE, NOT ENOUGH PRODUCTION
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