University of Missouri
Oklahoma
Sooners Strike Early To Gain Series Sweep
5/8/2000 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 8, 2000
NORMAN, OK -- The 25th-ranked Oklahoma Sooners (35-18, 18-9 Big 12) jumped out to a 9-0 lead on Monday night at L. Dale Mitchell Park, then held off the Missouri Tigers (29-21, 10-14 Big 12) for a 9-4 victory. The win completed a three-game series sweep for Oklahoma and extended MU's losing streak to a season-long four games.
It also catapaulted the Sooners into third place in the Big 12 Conference standings, just ahead of the Texas Longhorns (19-10 in the league) who lost earlier on Monday to the second-place Nebraska Cornhuskers, 2-0.
Missouri Coach Tim Jamieson sent lefthander Mitch Kiler to the mound for his first start of the season. He lasted four-and-a-third innings, allowing 10 hits and seven runs, and took the loss (2-2). Kiler and reliever Drew Endicott were victimized by the Tigers defense which committed four errors - running its total for the series to 10. Matt Hobbs worked three-and-two-thirds scoreless innings while Mizzou mounted a rally.
Landon Brandes homered to leftfield in the sixth inning, and Missouri plated three more in the seventh on four hits. But it was early in the game that MU wasted chances. The Tigers stranded 11 baserunners and twice missed prime opportunities to score in the early going.
The hitting of Brandes was one of the few bright spots for the Tigers in the series. He went 6-for-12 with five runs batted in. Among his hits were a double, triple and home run. Brandes was 3-for-4 on Monday, while Nick Wilfong was 3-for-5.
Zach Lekse and Jeff Bajenaru each had three hits Monday to pace Oklahoma's 16-hit attack. The Sooners outscored Missouri 33-14 in the three games.
The Tigers will play their final home game of the season on Wednesday when they host the Southeast Missouri State Indians (32-14) at Taylor Stadium at Simmons Field. Game time is 5 p.m. Mizzou travels to College Station, Texas this weekend for the final series of the regular season. The Tigers take on the Texas A&M Aggies (23-30, 11-16) on Friday, Saturday and Sunday before traveling on to Oklahoma City for the Phillips 66 Big 12 Conference Tournament, which opens on May 17.
