May 18, 2000
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA -- The Missouri Tigers put a scare into the Oklahoma Sooners Thursday night at Bricktown Ballpark in the second round of the Big 12 Conference Tournament, but a bullpen collapse in the final three innings cost the Tigers in a 12-6 loss.
After five innings, Missouri held a 5-4 lead, and the Tigers had knocked Oklahoma starter Austin Mix (10-1) from the game. But over the final four innings, OU reliever Austin Coose limited the Tigers to two hits and one run while MU's bullpen was unable to withstand a Sooner onslaught. Coose struck out six and walked none in four innings and earned the victory (5-6).
Dustin Barnes hit his first career home run off of Coose in the eighth inning to get Mizzou to within 8-6. Barnes was three-for-four in the game with two doubles and a home run. In two years at the Big 12 Tournament, where he was the all-tournament second baseman in 1999, he is 11-for-24.
MU starter Jon Harris left the game in the seventh after allowing eight hits and seven runs -- five of which were earned. Drew Endicott, Ralph McCasland and Logan Dale followed him to the hill and combined to allow eight hits and five runs.
Oklahoma, now 2-0 in the tournament, was led by Zack Lekse and Rick Park, each of whom had three hits. Park drove in three runs while Lekse and Jef Bajenaru had two apiece. The Sooners get tomorrow off, and will play Saturday against the winner of Friday's game between Missouri and Nebraska. The game starts at 4 p.m. Mitch Kiler will pitch for the Tigers, who beat Nebraska, 12-10, in Wednesday's first round.
The winner of Friday's contest would have to beat Oklahoma twice on Saturday to advance to Sunday's championship game.
Missouri, hitting .363 in the tournament, got three hits from Barnes and two each from Jayce Tingler, Landon Brandes (now on a 11-game hitting streak) and J.R. Warner. During a three-run Missouri fourth inning that put the Tigers ahead, 3-2, Warner hit one of the longest home runs ever seen at Bricktown, landing three rows from the top of the stadium in rightfield, estimated at more than 450 feet.