Opening Day in Waco, Texas, was supposed to mark a fresh start for both Baylor Bears and New Mexico State Aggies baseball teams. But few could have predicted the spectacle that unfolded at Baylor Ballpark on February 13, 2026—a night that instantly etched Tyce Armstrong’s name into the annals of college baseball history.
Armstrong, a redshirt senior first baseman playing his very first game for Baylor after transferring from UT Arlington, delivered a performance so extraordinary that it sent shockwaves across the collegiate and national baseball landscapes. Facing New Mexico State in the Bears’ season opener, Armstrong tied an NCAA record by blasting three grand slams in a single game, leading Baylor to a dominant 15-2 victory that was called after seven innings due to the mercy rule.
The last time baseball fans witnessed such a feat? March 24, 1976, when Louisville’s Jim LaFountain achieved the seemingly unbreakable mark. For fifty years, no college player had managed to replicate it—until Armstrong’s unforgettable debut.
“I’m speechless,” Armstrong told the Associated Press after the game. “It’s the coolest thing I’ve ever been a part of.”
The night began innocently enough, with both teams trading scoreless frames through two innings. NM State’s Colton Sneddon looked sharp on the mound, tossing two shutout innings and allowing just one hit with no walks. The Aggies even managed to put a pair of runners aboard early, but failed to capitalize. The tension in the ballpark was palpable—after all, Opening Day always brings a little extra electricity.
But the third inning changed everything. With Baylor holding a slim 1-0 lead, Armstrong stepped to the plate with the bases loaded. He turned on a low curveball and sent it soaring an estimated 401 feet over the left field wall. Suddenly, the Bears were up 5-0, and Armstrong had his first grand slam as a Bear—an unassuming start to what would become a legendary night.
NM State tried to regroup, but the Bears smelled blood. In the very next inning, Armstrong found himself with the bases juiced yet again. This time, he hammered an inside fastball 407 feet, once more into left field, for his second grand slam in as many innings. Baylor’s dugout erupted. Two grand slams in a single game is a rare accomplishment—only thirteen players in Major League Baseball history have ever done it, and none since 2009. Armstrong had done it in back-to-back innings, and the Aggies were suddenly staring at a 9-0 deficit.
To their credit, New Mexico State didn’t quit. Their highlight came in the top of the sixth when Bryce Campbell, a reliable power threat, launched a two-run homer to left field, scoring Boston Vest after he’d been hit by a pitch. That shot marked Campbell’s seventh career home run as an Aggie and his second consecutive game with a long ball, stretching back to the final contest of last season. It was a brief spark for the visitors, who finished the night with three hits and no errors despite the lopsided score.
On the mound for NM State, reliever Dylan Weekly provided a bright spot, tossing two scoreless innings with a career-best five strikeouts—a sign that the Aggies’ bullpen could be a strength as the season unfolds.
But the night belonged to Armstrong. After striking out with two on and no outs in the sixth, he came up again in the bottom of the seventh. The bases were loaded, two runs had already crossed the plate, and there was one out. With Baylor comfortably ahead 11-2, Armstrong attacked a high fastball and drove it 386 feet, yet again to left field. His third grand slam of the game. The crowd at Baylor Ballpark could hardly believe it. The Bears’ bench emptied to greet Armstrong at home plate, and the scoreboard flashed 15-2. With that, the game was called under the mercy rule.
Armstrong finished the night 3-for-4 with 12 RBIs, a hit-by-pitch, and a slugging percentage of 3.000. In just one game, he had matched a record that had stood for half a century, and he’d done it in his Baylor debut. “Tyce Armstrong again! Is this the greatest opening day performance EVER!?” exclaimed College Baseball Insiders on social media, echoing the sentiment of fans and analysts everywhere.
For Armstrong, the journey to this moment had been anything but ordinary. After slashing .319/.415/.556 with 12 homers and 46 RBIs in his final season at UT Arlington—where he earned second-team All-WAC honors—the Magnolia, Texas native transferred to Baylor seeking a fresh start and a chance to make an impact. Few could have imagined he’d do it in such spectacular fashion. “Tyce Armstrong transferred in this past offseason and made an IMMEDIATE impact,” noted Baylor Bears On SI, highlighting the significance of his arrival for head coach Mitch Thompson’s squad.
The Bears, meanwhile, put together a complete performance on both sides of the ball. Their pitching staff held NM State to just three hits, and their offense—powered by Armstrong’s historic night—showed the kind of firepower that could make them contenders in the Big 12. For Thompson, it was a dream start to the season and a sign that his club could be in for something special.
As for NM State, the Aggies will look to regroup quickly. They return to Baylor Ballpark for the second game of the series on Saturday, February 14, at 1 p.m. Mountain Time, with the action streaming live on ESPN+. Despite the tough loss, there were positives to build on—Sneddon’s early poise, Campbell’s continued power surge, and Weekly’s impressive relief outing all bode well for the season ahead.
Armstrong’s achievement is already being celebrated as one of the greatest opening day performances in college baseball history. “This performance is rapidly making national news and is putting Mitch Thompson’s ball club on the map,” reported Inside the Bears. And with Armstrong now hitting .750 with 12 RBIs after just one game, the Bears’ faithful can’t help but dream about what’s to come.
As the sun sets on a remarkable Opening Day in Waco, one thing is clear: Tyce Armstrong’s three-grand-slam debut isn’t just a Baylor or NCAA milestone—it’s a moment that will be remembered for generations. The Bears and Aggies will take the field again soon, but for now, the baseball world is still buzzing from a night when history was made, and a new star was born.