University of Missouri
Youngstown State
Ninth-Inning Rally Not Enough For Tigers
2/27/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 27, 2004
COLUMBIA, Mo.-- - The Mizzou baseball team dropped its second straight game, falling to Youngstown State by a score of 3-2 on Friday in the home opener at Taylor Stadium. The Tigers, trailing 3-0 in the top of the ninth, attempted to rally in the final inning, putting two runs on the board, but falling a run short.
Youngstown State starting pitcher, Justin Thomas kept the Tiger bats in check on Friday, allowing only two hits and no runs in 7.0 innings of work. He struck out nine and walked one.
The ninth inning rally for Missouri began when YSU pitcher, Clint Ford, came on in relief and threw 14 consecutive balls. Sophomore OF Tyler Williams walked. Freshman OF Hunter Mense was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a passed ball. Sophomore SS Zane Taylor then walked to load the bases and a wild pitch drove in Williams. Senior OF Ryan Rallo followed with the third walk of the inning. Mense then scored on a sacrifice fly by senior 1B Cody Ehlers.
The Tigers managed only four hits in the game, one each by Rallo, senior C Brad Flanders, senior 2B Jeremy Hernandez and junior 3B Cosme Caballero.
Senior RHP Danny Hill started for MU and went 6.1 innings, allowing three runs on eight hits. He struck out six and walked just one as he suffered his first loss of the year.
Mizzou and Youngstown State will continue their series on Saturday at Taylor Stadium. Game two of the three-game set will start at 2 p.m. and the final game of the series will begin at 1 p.m. on Sunday. All Mizzou baseball games can be heard on the ZRG Radio Network (1580 KTGR in Columbia) and online at www.KTGR.com. For tickets, call 1-800-CAT-PAWS or 884-PAWS in Columbia.
