April 29, 2000
COLUMBIA, MO -- Landon Brandes gave the Missouri Tigers an 8-6 lead with a bases-loaded single in the eighth inning Saturday, and Ryan Stegall made it stand up pitching a perfect 1-2-3 ninth inning that enabled him to earn his school-record 10th save as MU dealt the Kansas State Wildcats their 19th straight road defeat at Taylor Stadium at Simmons Field.
Missouri (29-17, 10-10) started its game-winning rally with one out in the eighth inning. Jon Williams and Jayce Tingler each walked against K-State reliver Todd Lundwall. After J.R. Warner bounced out to first, Stegall was hit by a pitch to load the bases. On a 2-2 count, Brandes bounced a single up the middle to drive in the winning runs.
Stegall came on in relief of winning pitcher Matt Hobbs (2-0) in the ninth, and needed just 10 pitches to record his 10th save. That broke the old school record of nine set by Jeff Cornell in 1978.
The Wildcats (16-26, 3-19) jumped out to a 4-0 lead after two innings against Tigers ace Pete Sansone, who came into the game with a 5-0 record. Back-to-back doubles by Graham McAllister and Kasey Weishaar to start the game, followed by a single from Pat Maloney gave the 'Cats a 2-0 lead in the first. Three straight singles by Joey Ammirato, Nick Scelfo and McAllister, a throwing error by Mizzou catcher Ryan Pickett and a sacrifice fly by Weishaar gave KSU two more runs.
Missouri, which has hit just .207 in taking a 2-0 series lead, didn't have a hit until the fourth inning when Nick Wilfong doubled following a walk to Brandes. Dustin Barnes, on a four-game hitting streak since cracking the lineup on Tuesday, singled in both runners to get the Tigers on the board.
Kansas State extended its lead in the fifth and sixth innings with solo home runs by McAllister and Bentson Oleen, respectively.
The Tigers finally tied the score with a four-run sixth inning that included a two-run homer by freshman Dan Bane - his first collegiate homer.
Lundwall was the loser (1-3) in relief of Chad Duckers, who pitched the first five-and-a-third innings for Kansas State.
Missouri has now won seven of its last eight games. The series wraps up on Sunday with a 1 p.m. contest. Prior to the game, Mizzou's four seniors will be saluted. Tigers freshman Drew Endicott (1-2) will make his first Big 12 Conference start and will be opposed by Wildcats righthander Jason Wells (3-6).