Houston: Small ball back at you

By Jonathan Yardley - June 02, 2007

Baylor is beating Prairie View at its own game right now, using aggressive baserunning and a few breaks to take a 2-0 lead after two innings.

In the first, Baylor's Ben Booker scored an unearned run without any Bear getting a hit. Booker walked, stole second, moved to third on a passed ball (which earned the catcher a "Nice hands, Tony Romo!" jeer from a leather-lunged fan) and scored on a grounder that was misplayed at second base. The Bears have two steals already. Baylor added a run in the second. With one out, the bottom of the order pieced together three consecutive singles. PV righthander Wrandal Taylor looked like he might get out of it after getting a ground-out at home, but he twitched almost imperceptibly for a balk to force in a run.

A strikeout ended the inning, but Prairie View trails 2-0 and is in danger of never getting into the game. Baylor's Tim Matthews has been adequate so far, but Prairie View is definitely getting its hacks. Matthews retired seven in a row before hitting a batter in the third. Still 2-0 Baylor as we go to the bottom of the third here.