University of Missouri
Baylor
Wilfong's Bunt Single Drives In Winning Run
4/9/2000 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 9, 2000
COLUMBIA, MO -- Nick Wilfong's two-out bunt single in the ninth inning drove in J.R. Warner from third base, capping a two-run rally and giving the Missouri Tigers (21-13, 8-7) a dramatic 9-8 victory over the No. 18 (Collegiate Baseball) Baylor Bears (28-11, 12-6), in Big 12 Conference baseball Sunday at Taylor Stadium at Simmons Field.
The Tigers trailed 8-7 entering the ninth, after Baylor had scratched across a run in the eighth inning when Chris Durbin scored on a wild pitch by Missouri lefthander Mitch Kiler.
Dustin Barnes, who had had only two at bats since March 1, coaxed a walk from Baylor ace reliever Zane Carlson to start the ninth. After Jayce Tingler, trying to sacrifice, forced pinch runner Tony Vitello at second base, J.R. Warner singled to left field. Mizzou's leading hitter, Ryan Stegall popped up for the second out, but Landon Brandes singled home Tingler with the tying run on a 3-2 pitch and Warner raced to third base. Hitless on the day, Wilfong bunted the first pitch at Baylor third baseman Mark Saccomanno who had just entered the game in the ninth inning as a defensive replacement. He fielded the ball cleanly, but started to throw to the plate before realizing he only needed an out at first base to end the inning. His double-pumped throw, though, was low and late as Wilfong reached safely and Warner scored.
The ninth-inning rally made a winner of Kiler (2-1), who pitched the final three-and-two-thirds innings in relief of Pete Sansone. Kiler allowed four hits and one run while walking one and striking out one.
Carlson was the loser (1-2).
Missouri, which is now 7-0 on Sundays this season, jumped out to a 3-0 lead, getting a two-run home run from Brandes in the first inning and a solo homer from Luke Cassis, the first of the sophomore's career, in the third. Those were Mizzou's only hits off of Baylor starter Josh Scott until the sixth inning.
Baylor scored two runs in the fourth, then sent Sansone packing with a five-run sixth inning in which the Bears got five hits - one a two-RBI single by Anthony Hensley.
Brandes drove in a run in the sixth before Missouri finally tied the game with three runs in the seventh inning. Three pinch-hitters started the inning for the Tigers, with Wes Fewell and W.T. Hoover singling around a walk to Jon Williams to load the bases. Jared Theodorakos came on to pitch for the Bears and hit Tingler in the back to force home a run. Warner and Brandes then hit sacrifice flies to drive in the tying runs.
Brandes, who earlier in the season missed nine games with a broken hand, went 3-for-4 with five runs batted in to lead Missouri. Jaime Bubela, Kelly Shoppach and Steve Dorneman each had two hits for Baylor.
Missouri plays a non-conference game against Southwest Missouri State on Wednesday night at Price Cutter Park in Ozark, Mo., before hosting Nebraska for a Big 12 Conference series next weekend in Columbia. Baylor hosts Rice on Wednesday before welcoming Iowa State to Waco, Texas, on Friday night.
