• Big 12-leading Baylor baseball rides record 21-game win streak into series vs. Aggies

    Baylor baseball 2012It’s a testament to just how much good stuff is going on at Baylor that it’s already late April and we are only now getting around to talking about Baylor baseball. But oh, is there plenty to talk about.

    Most notably, the No. 6-ranked Bears roll into this weekend’s series against No. 2 Texas A&M riding a program-record 21-game winning streak. The run matches the longest win streak in Big 12 baseball history, as Baylor hasn’t lost a game in more than a month. (Come to think of it, 2011-12 has been a year of successful streaks for Baylor athletics: football won its last six, men’s hoops started 17-0, and of course the Lady Bears went 40-0 on the year.)

    Baylor baseball’s win streak has covered the entire conference slate to date, as the Bears have started Big 12 play an astounding 15-0. To put that in context, the previous best start to Big 12 conference play by any team was a 7-0 run by Texas in 1999. The Bears have a 4.5-game lead in the Big 12 with a third of the season left to go, doing it with an offense that leads the league in most every major category and a pitching staff that ranks among the league’s best as well.

    At the helm of the Bears is Steve Smith, BSED ’86, who earlier this week became the winningest head coach in Baylor history. Smith earned his 650th career win on Tuesday to pass his predecessor, Mickey Sullivan, BS ’55, for whom Smith played at Baylor in the early 1980s. Smith is one of just six coaches in Baylor history ever to win even 300 games; four of the six are current head coaches.

    This weekend’s match-up against Texas A&M is the last series to be played between the two longtime foes as conference opponents. The games begin tonight in College Station, then move to Waco Saturday (6:35 p.m.) and Sunday (2:05 p.m.); both games in Waco will be televised locally on MYTX. Saturday, the McDonald’s Family Four Pack offers fans four tickets, four drinks, four hot dogs and two Happy Meal vouchers for just $36, while Sunday is Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Family Sunday, as all kids 12 and under get in free. Saturday’s game will also feature a post-game fireworks show. (Click here for details on all the promotions.)

    Sic ’em, Baylor baseball!