University of Missouri
Kansas State
Tigers Sweep Kansas State With 5-4 Win
3/30/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 30, 2003
MANHATTAN, Kan. - The Missouri baseball team beat Kansas State, 5-4, Sunday afternoon at Frank Myers Field to record a series sweep and the Tigers' first back-to-back league sweeps since the formation of the Big 12 Conference in 1997.
Freshman 3B Zane Taylor (Kirksville, Mo.) and junior C Brad Flanders (Smithville, Mo.) each went 3-for-5, and the Tigers received stellar support from their bullpen. After allowing Andrew Dunsmore to reach base on a throwing error, sophomore closer Travis Wendte (Moore, Okla.) retired Josh Heinrich and Brian Patty. Gabe Luttrell hit a double to left that junior OF Ryan Rallo (Chesterfield, Mo.) cut off to prevent the run from scoring. Wendte balked that run home, but got Brett Williams to ground out to second to earn his sixth save.
Junior RHP Andy Shipman (Bellevue, Neb.) did an excellent setup job for Wendte, scattering a pair of hits over three innings of relief. He induced a sixth-inning double play - one of three for the Tigers on the day and six over the weekend - in picking up his third straight win (4-2).
"We played well this weekend. I feel good for the players," Head Coach Tim Jamieson said. "We did a good job of making plays in difficult situations, and we had good at-bats. We're playing well right now."
Mizzou took advantage of a Kansas State error to put a run up in the first. Taylor lined a one-out single to right-center and went to third on a single by junior DH Lee Laskowski (Clayton, Mo.). Taylor then scored on a sacrifice fly to right by junior 1B Cody Ehlers (Stillwater, Okla.) when the K-State second baseman, running away from the plate, called his center fielder off to make the catch.
The 'Cats came back with a pair in the second to take their first lead of the series. Ty Soto walked to lead off the inning, and Dunsmore and Heinrich followed with one-out singles to score Soto. Patty walked to load the bases, and Luttrell hit a fly to deep center to score Dunsmore on the sacrifice fly.
Mizzou tied the game in the third when Laskowski hit a one-out double to left, and scored with a two-out double to deep center by junior 2B Jeremy Hernandez (Aptos, Calif.)
Kansas State regained the lead in the fourth when Brian Patty hit a two-out solo homer for his first career shot.
Yet the Tigers fought back by batting around with three runs in the sixth. Flanders and junior RF Kyle Johnson (Omaha, Neb.) reached with a single and walk, respectively, off K-State starter Kevin Melcher (0-2). Rallo groundout out to move the runners over, and freshman SS Adam Garrett (Sikeston, Mo.) - who hit .667 for the series - singled to left to score Rallo. Senior CF Jayce Tingler (Smithville, Mo.) doubled Johnson home, and after Melcher was removed for Eric Rollins, Taylor singled to left for the Tigers' final run.
The Wildcats threatened with singles by Pat Maloney and Tim Doty to lead off the eighth inning, yet Wendte got Ty Soto to ground into a fielders choice and Ryan Baldwin to hit into an around-the-horn double play to end the inning.
The Tigers will attempt to conclude a perfect five-game road trip on Wednesday at Saint Louis. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. at the Billiken Sports Center on the SLU campus. Mizzou returns home this weekend for a three-game Big 12 set against Texas Tech. For ticket information, call 1-800-CAT-PAWS (573-884-PAWS in mid-Missouri).
