Tyce Armstrong Belts Three Grand Slams as Baylor Cruises in Opening-Day Showcase
In a season-opening performance that will be replayed for years, Tyce Armstrong blasted three grand slams in his Baylor debut on Friday afternoon (ET), powering the Bears to a 15-2, seven-inning victory over New Mexico State. The feat tied a collegiate record that had stood for five decades and capped a wild Opening Day of upsets and dramatic finishes.
Armstrong’s historic day
The redshirt senior first baseman turned his Baylor arrival into instant history. Armstrong finished 3-for-4 with three home runs — all grand slams — and a staggering 12 RBIs. His third grand slam in the bottom of the seventh put the finishing touch on a night that matched the only other three-grand-slam game in college baseball history, a mark set by Jim LaFountain in 1976.
How the game unfolded
Baylor opened the scoring in the third when a run-scoring triple set the table, and Armstrong followed by clearing the bases with his first grand slam, giving the Bears an early 5-0 advantage. He struck again in the fourth, this time crushing a 408-foot blast to left with the bases loaded, and then capped the outburst with another bases-loaded homer in the seventh. The Bears used timely hitting and patience at the plate — drawing 13 walks in the game — to generate consistent pressure on New Mexico State, triggering the run-rule finish after seven innings.
Pitching and supporting performances
On the mound, Baylor got a strong first start from a right-hander making his first Division I start. He tossed 4. 2 scoreless innings, fanning six batters on 75 pitches and helping the Bears maintain momentum while the offense piled up runs. Other contributors included a transfer third baseman who added multi-RBI production and several teammates who capitalized on the opponent’s mistakes to sustain rallies throughout the contest.
Other Opening Day standouts
The afternoon wasn’t just about a single historic outing. A top-10 program picked up an early-season, ranked-versus-ranked victory when No. 10 TCU edged No. 23 Vanderbilt, 5-4, in a game decided by an eighth-inning miscue. Vanderbilt’s catcher launched three solo homers, but a late errant throw allowed two runs to score and swung the game in TCU’s favor. Elsewhere, Michigan pulled off a notable upset of No. 12 Oregon State at the College Baseball Series in Surprise, Arizona. Michigan’s right fielder delivered a two-out, two-run single in the eighth to break a 3-3 tie and finished 3-for-4 with four RBIs.
What this means for Baylor and the season ahead
Armstrong’s debut is more than a headline; it’s an immediate boost to Baylor’s lineup and profile entering conference play. A power display like this can change how opposing pitching staffs approach the order and gives the Bears a middle-of-the-order threat who can change the game in one swing. The pitching staff’s ability to use that lead efficiently — highlighted by the strong early outing from the first-time Division I starter — will be key as Baylor looks to translate Opening Day dominance into sustained success.
Friday’s opening slate delivered a mix of history, heartbreak and early-season statement games. For Baylor and Armstrong, the moment will be remembered as one of the rarest single-game offensive explosions in college baseball history.
