Tyus Armstrong makes NCAA history with 3 grand slams against New Mexico State
Baylor Bears baseball started the season in spectacular fashion, defeating the New Mexico State Aggies 15-2 in seven innings at Baylor Ballpark on Friday, thanks in large part to a historic performance by first baseman transfer Tyce Armstrong.
Armstrong became only the second player in the first division in history to hit three grand slams in one game, matching the feat last accomplished in 1976 by Jim LaFontaine of the Louisville Cardinals against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. No other player has produced three grand slams since LaFountain’s performance 50 years ago, according to NCAA records. In MLB history, no player has hit three grand slams in one game, and only 13 have accomplished two in one contest.
Batting in his debut with the Bears, the 22-year-old redshirt senior went 3-for-4 with three home runs, 12 RBIs, one strikeout and a hit-by-pitch. All three home runs were grand slams to left field, traveling a combined 1,194 feet. His first came in the third inning on a 2-2 pitch from Cooper Reese, a 401-foot drive that extended Baylor’s lead to 5-0. In the fourth, he followed with a 407-footer to left that extended the lead to 9-0. After striking out in the sixth, Armstrong connected again in the seventh, sending a 2-0 shot off Matthew Yark 386 feet to left for his third grand slam. That swing gave the Bears a double-digit lead and triggered the mercy rule.
Armstrong transferred to Baylor after three seasons at UT Arlington, where he collected 17 home runs and 87 RBIs and earned second-team All-VAC honors in 2025. He posted a .319/.415/.556 slash line with 12 home runs and 456 RBIs last season.
Coming off a 33-22 season that included a 13-17 conference record in 2025, the Bears are pursuing their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2019. Baylor will resume its opening series against New Mexico State on Saturday.
2026-02-14 09:28:00
