University of Missouri
CSUN
Matadors Spoil Easter For Tigers
4/23/2000 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 23, 2000
COLUMBIA, MO -- The Missouri Tigers stranded 10 base runners, hit into two double plays and had a runner picked off Sunday afternoon as they saw a three-game winning streak go by the boards in a 6-1 loss to the Cal State Northridge Matadors.
For the third time this season, Missouri (25-17) was thwarted in an attempt to climb 10 games over .500.
Northridge (17-26) jumped out to a 3-0 lead off of Tigers starter Logan Dale in the second inning. Jason Gorman delivered a bases-loaded singled and Mike Bumstead followed with a two-rbi double to right field before Dale settled down and recorded three outs.
The Tigers closed to within 3-1 in the fourth when Nick Wilfong led off with a double off the leftfield wall, went to third base on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Landon Brandes. But the Tigers missed a chance for more runs when Brandes was picked off first base by Matador pitcher Mike Frick. Wes Fewell later walked in the inning and Mike Rallo was robbed of a base hit on a diving stop by CSUN second baseman Bobby Koba .
Mizzou threatened again in the sixth inning when Brandes led off with a double down the leftfield line and Jon Williams singled to right center. But on Fewell's grounder to first base, Brandes broke for the plate and after the Matadors got a force out at second base on Williams, shortstop J.T. Stotts whirled and threw Brandes out at the plate.
The Matadors widened their lead with two runs off of MU reliever Mitch Kiler in the seventh inning on a two-run double by Tim Arroyo. Northridge scored an unearned insurance run in the ninth.
Missouri stranded one runner in the seventh, two in the eighth and hit into a double play in the ninth inning after pinch hitter W.T. Hoover drew a walk to lead off the frame.
Frick (3-5) pitched the first six innings and earned the win. He allowed all six Missouri hits. Relievers Ryan McDermott, Steve Busby and Bobby Graves closed out the victory. Dale (4-5) took the loss.
The Tigers play a pair of mid-week games before returning to Big 12 Conference play next weekend against Kansas State in Columbia. On Tuesday, Missouri will take on the St. Louis University Billikens at T.R. Hughes Ballpark in O'Fallon. The game, co-sponsored by KTRS Radio, Rawlings Sporting Goods and the River City Rascals will be a "wood-bat" game and starts at 7 p.m.
On Wednesday, Mizzou entertains the Southwest Missouri State Bears at 7 p.m.
