OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - Other Big 12 Conference coaches marvel at the fact that Baylor won 24 consecutive games plus an 18-0 start in league play. That string of success is a major reason why the Bears ran away with the regular season title.

Baylor's baseball success has a simple formula: make every pitch count. The Bears grind.
"Coach (Steve Smith) has told us all season that it doesn't matter what has just happened, just win the next pitch," said senior catcher Josh Ludy, named the Big 12 player of the year Tuesday.

That philosophy was born in the final game of the 2011 season. Baylor had a three-run lead against Cal in the Rice Regional. Instead of advancing - and probably hosting a super regional - the Big 12 Bears lost to the Pac-12 Bears as Cal rallied for four runs. The Bears were one strike away from winning.

"When we lost the three-run lead in the ninth inning of a championship game in a regional,the value of one pitch at a time was never made more clear," Smith said. "What happened this year started last year when we walked off the field at Rice."

The Bears go into the Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship as the No. 1 seed. While Baylor has won three regular-season titles, it has never won Big 12 Championship.

"We were blessed this season and stayed healthy," Smith said. "We've accomplished a lot but we still have other goals out there. The fact that we've never won this championship, that's probably some motivation."

The Bears start against No. 8 Kansas State at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. The double elimination tournament ends at 1 p.m. Sunday with the championship game that will be televised by FSN.

No. 1 Baylor
Record: 42-12 overall, 20-4 in Big 12.
Last 10 games: 6-4.
Coach: Steve Smith.
Top hitters: Jr. OF Logan Vick (.347, 23 2B, 33 RBI, 14 SBs), Sr. C Josh Ludy (.347, 9 HR, 54 RBI), Jr. 1B Max Muncy (.316, 6 HR, 49 RBI), Jr. Cal Towey (.291, 43 RBI), Soph. 2B Lawton Langford (.327).
Top pitchers: Jr. LHP Josh Turley (8-0, 1.67 ERA), Sr. RHP Trent Blank (10-1, 2.11 ERA), Jr. RHP Max Garner (2-2, 10 saves), Fr. RHP Ryan Smith (3-1, 2.19 ERA).
Extra bases: Josh Ludy, who was named Big 12 player of the year, was rock solid at the plate and behind the plate. He led the Bears in hitting with a .347 average. He also was the team's leader in home runs with 9 and RBI with 54. In 51 games, he was charged with just 3 errors. ... Ludy is the third Baylor player selected as Conference player of the year. Kelly Shoppach was honored in 2001 while Jason Jennings was twice named play

No. 2 Texas A&M
Record: 41-14 overall, 16-8 in Big 12.
Last 10 games: 9-1.
Coach: Rob Childress.
Top hitters: Jr. OF Tyler Naquin (.373, 15 2B, 6 3B, 46 RBI, 17 SB), Sr. 1B Jacob House (.308, 12 2B, 8 HR, 50 RBI), Sr. DH Matt Juengel (.297, 42 RBI), Soph. C Troy Stein (.314, 12 2B, 25 RBI).
Top pitchers: Jr. RHP Michael Wacha (8-0, 2.89 ERA), Sr. RHP Ross Stripling (10-2, 2.70 ERA), Soph. RHP Rafael Pineda (5-1, 2.78 ERA), Jr. RHP Kyle Martin (6-5, 3.23 ERA, 6 saves).
Extra bases: Tyler Naquin, the Big 12 player of the year last season, finished second in the Big 12 in hitting with a .373 average and led the Conference in hits. He led the Aggies in at bats, hits, doubles and slugging percentage and was second on the team in RBI and stolen bases. ... Right-hander Ross Stripling capped his senior season in spectacular fashion with a no hitter against San Diego State. His 10 victories were tied for the most in the Big 12. Stripling had a 2.70 ERA and limited opposing hitters to a .216 batting average. ... Michael Wacha and Stripling have combined for 90 career starts. ... The Aggies led the Big 12 with 120 stolen bases; Krey Bratsen's 21 steals led the team.

No. 3 Texas
Record: 30-20 overall, 14-10 in Big 12.
Last 10 games: 6-4.
Coach: Augie Garrido.
Top hitters: Soph. 3B Erich Weiss (.349, 16 2B, 5 HR, 37 RBI); Soph. OF Mark Payton (.330, 12 2B, 5 HR, 29 RBI), Jr. OF Jonathan Walsh (.291, 11 2B, 6 HR, 31 RBI), Fr. 2B Brooks Marlow (.214, 29 RBI).
Top pitchers: Soph. RHP Cory Knebel (2-4, 2.03 ERA), Jr. LHP Hoby Milner (5-0, 2.50 ERA), Soph. RHP Nathan Thornhill (1-4, 5.27 ERA), Fr. LHP Dillon Peters (1-1, 5.40 ERA).
Extra bases: This will be the 10th meeting between Texas and Missouri over the last two seasons. Last season, they faced off six times - three during the regular season and three during the Big 12 Championship. ... The teams have met seven times in the Big 12 Championship, with the Tigers owning a 5-2 edge. ... Texas is 28-21 in the Big 12 Championship and has won the event four times - 2002, 2003, 2008 and 2009. ... Missouri took two of three from Texas earlier this month. The Longhorns' starters lasted a combined 6.2 innings. ... Sophomore Cory Knebel is second in UT history with 28 saves, but he has been moved to the starting rotation. ... Leadoff hitter Mark Payton has reached base in 48 of UT's 50 games.

No. 4 Oklahoma
Record: 35-21 overall, 13-10 in Big 12.
Last 10 games: 6-4.
Coach: Sunny Golloway.
Top hitters: Jr. OF Max White (.335, 16 2B, 52 RBI), Sr. OF Evan Mistich (.273, 3 HR, 28 RBI), Sr. OF Cody Reine (.274, 9 2B, 5 3B, 4 HR, 26 RBI), Fr. C Hunter Lockwood (.258, 11 HR, 39 RBI).
Top pitchers: Soph. LHP Dillon Overton (5-3, 3.35 ERA), Soph. LHP Jordan John (8-6, 2.28 ERA), Soph. RHP Jonathan Gray (7-4, 3.58 ERA), Soph. RHP Damien Magnifico (3-1, 3.51 ERA).
Extra bases: Oklahoma has faced Oklahoma State seven times in the Big 12 Championship and has yet to lose. The last Bedlam meeting in this event came in 2007. ... The teams met four times during the regular season, with Oklahoma State winning three. ... Oklahoma won five Big 12 series this season. Baylor and Texas A&M each won six. ... The Sooners are 31-8 when holding their opponent to five or fewer runs. ... Oklahoma hit 28 home runs in Big 12 play, second in the conference. Freshman Hunter Lockwood led OU with 11 round trippers. ... The Sooners have rallied for 17 of their 35 victories. ... Oklahoma has won 20 of its last 27, including a three-game sweep of Baylor - the Bears' first losses in Conference play.

No. 5. Oklahoma State
Record: 32-23 overall, 13-11 in Big 12.
Last 10 games: 5-5.
Coach: Frank Anderson.
Top hitters: Junior 2B Robbie Rea (.329, 18 2B, 5 HR, 36 RBI), Jr. OF Trey Whaley (.308, 12 2B, 18 RBI), Sr. SS Hunter Bailey (.276, 24 RBI), Sr. 3B Mark Ginther (.272, 10 2B, 5 HR, 30 RBI).
Top pitchers: Junior LHP Andrew Heaney (8-1, 1.63 ERA, 132 Ks), Jr. RHP Randy McCurry (4-2, 3.19 ERA), Sr. LHP Kyle Ottoson (4-7, 3.86 ERA).
Extra bases: One of 16 newcomers on this year's roster, junior second baseman Robbie Rea has made the biggest impact. He led the Cowboys in hitting, doubles, RBI, slugging percentage and tied for the team lead in home runs. Rea was tops on the team with 21 multi-hit games. ... Andrew Heaney, a junior left hander, was a dominant No. 1 starter for the Cowboys. In his 14 starters, opposing hitters had a meager .183 batting average. Heaney was 8-1 with a 1.63 ERA while striking out 132 in 110 innings. His strikeout total was tops in the Big 12. ... With Oklahoma State's victory over Bowling Green in February, Frank Anderson became the third coach in school history with at least 300 victories. ... Oklahoma State led the Big 12 in fielding percentage and is among the national leaders in that category.

No. 6 Missouri
Record: 28-26 overall, 10-14 in Big 12.
Last 10 games: 5-5.
Coach: Tim Jamieson.
Top hitters: Sr. 3B Conner Mach (.302, 10 2B, 29 RBI), Jr. OF Blake Brown (.296, 9 HR, 36 RBI, 14 SB), Jr. OF/DH Dane Opel (.285, 11 HR, 39 RBI), Jr. OF Brannon Champagne (.266, 23 RBI, 12 SB).
Top pitchers: Sr. RHP Jeff Emens (2-1, 2.50 ERA), Soph. LHP Jake Walsh (2-3, 3.41 ERA, 8 saves), Soph. LHP Rob Zastryzny (4-5, 3.99 ERA), Jr. LHP Blake Holovach (6-4, 4.61 ERA).
Extra bases: The Tigers will be participating in their final Big 12 Championship as Missouri is moving to the Southeastern Conference. ... As was the case last year, Missouri faces the challenge of gaining an NCAA berth only by winning the Conference's automatic bid. Mizzou lost in the championship game last season. ... Junior Eric Anderson was expected to be Mizzou's No. 1 starter but he was sidelined after making just four starts. ... In this 18th season, coach Tim Jamieson needs one victory to reach 600 for his career. ... Junior outfielder Dane Opel hit 11 home runs, tied for the most in the Big 12. ... Outfielder Blake Brown had a 21-game hitting streak that ended in mid-April. ... Senior catcher Ben Turner has been an iron man, catching over 90 percent of the team's innings.

No. 7 Kansas
Record: 22-23 overall, 7-16 in Big 12.
Last 10 games: 5-5.
Coach: Ritch Price.
Top hitters: Jr. 2B/3B Jordan Dreiling (.297), Sr. 3B Zac Elgie (.271, 5 HR, 27 RBI), Jr. SS Kevin Kuntz (.264, 22 RBI), Jr. C Alex DeLeon (.267, 4 HR, 22 RBI).
Top pitchers: Soph. RHP Frank Duncan (6-7, 2.81 ERA), Fr. LHP Wes Benjamin (4-7, 3.68 ERA), Jr. RHP Thomas Taylor (4-7, 4.96 ERA), Fr. RHP Robert Kahana (3-1, 3.34 ERA).
Extra bases: Kansas went into the final weekend facing the possibility of not qualifying for a trip to Oklahoma City. The Jayhawks took two of three from Missouri to assure the No. 7 seed. Coach Ritch Price said his young team needs "the experience of going to Bricktown for this team to continue to grow." ... Senior Zac Elgie has been cleared to resume baseball activities. Elgie broke a pinky finger on April 27 against Oklahoma and missed the next two weeks. ... Kansas got its first shutout in over three seasons thanks to freshman lefty Wes Benjamin. He tossed a six-hitter as the Jayhawks blanked Kansas State, 6-0, on May 12. ... Kansas finished second in the Big 12 and is in the top 20 nationally in fielding percentage. ... Senior outfielder Jason Brunansky is the son of former major league outfielder Tom Brunansky.

No. 8 Kansas State
Record: 26-29 overall, 7-17 in Big 12.
Last 10 games: 7-3.
Coach: Brad Hill.
Top hitters: Soph. CF Jared King (.378, 14 2B, 7 HR, 45 RBI, 15 SBs), Sr. 1B Wade Hinkle (.335, 10 HR, 48 RBI), Jr. OF Tanner Witt, .313, 21 RBI, 20 SB), Soph. 2B Ross Kivett (.283, 23 SB).
Top pitchers: Jr. LHP Joe Flattery (6-4, 4.28 ERA), Sr. RHP Kayvon Bahramzadeh (7-2, 4.32 ERA), Sr. RHP Matt Applegate (2-6, 5.73 ERA), Fr. RHP Nate Williams (1-3, 3.73 ERA, 6 saves).
Extra bases: Kansas State has participated in six consecutive Big 12 Championships. ... The Wildcats clinched the No. 8 seed with a 5-1 victory at Texas Tech Friday. Junior lefty Joe Flattery, who was named the Big 12 newcomer of the week, threw a complete game for the victory. It was K-State's first complete game since 2009. ... Sophomore Jared King won the Big 12 batting title with a .378 average. King is the second Wildcat in the last three years to win the batting title after Nick Martini hit .420 during the 2010 regular season. ... K-State has turned 55 double plays, which ranks among the national leaders. ... The Wildcats led the Big 12 by drawing 258 walks; they also had the second-fewest strikeouts.