May 14, 2003
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Senior CF Jayce Tingler (Smithville, Mo.) moved into a tie for the school record for hits in a career with three safeties on Friday, and junior 1B Cody Ehlers (Stillwater, Okla.) hit a pair of homers to lead Mizzou to a 15-6 win over Rockhurst on Friday at Taylor Stadium/Simmons Field. It was the non-conference regular-season finale for the Tigers (32-17).
Tingler now joins Tiger standout Ryan Fry (1995-98) with 265 hits apiece, and will have five more chances - three regular-season games against Oklahoma next weekend, and at least two games at the Big 12 Tournament - to break Fry's record. In addition, Tingler needs just three more walks to break Matt Nivens' career mark. He also scored four runs on the night, leaving him five short of Fry's standard of 223.
Ehlers finished 3-for-5 with five RBI to join junior LF Ryan Rallo (Chesterfield, Mo.) for the team lead with eight.
Mizzou scored first in the first when Tingler doubled, advanced to third on a groundout by junior SS Ian Kinsler (Tucson, Ariz.) and came home on and RBI single to left by Ehlers. The Tigers added a run in the second on an RBI single to left by freshman 3B Zane Taylor (Kirksville, Mo.) that scored freshman DH James Boone (Clinton, Okla.).
The Tigers exploded for six runs in the third on the Hawks (29-15). Mizzou sent 12 batters to the plate, and five notched base hits including Ehlers, who led off the inning with a 415-foot shot over the batter's eye in dead center. Junior RF Kyle Johnson (Omaha, Neb.) followed with a triple to right that scored Rallo, who had singled to left. Johnson came home on a single to center by junior C Brad Flanders (Smithville, Mo.),
The Tigers conclude their regular season with a three-game home series against Big 12 Conference rival Oklahoma. Both Friday and Saturday's games begin at 6:30 p.m., with Sunday's finale set for 1 p.m.