May 16, 2004
LAWRENCE, Kan. -- -
Missouri dropped its first conference series in three weeks as Kansas took a 4-3 win in Sunday's finale to claim the series win. MU falls to 30-20-1 on the year and 9-14 in the Big 12, while the Jayhawks move to 28-31-1 overall and 4-19 in the conference.
Kansas scored first on Sunday as Sean Richardson doubled and scored on a single by Kyle Kilgo in the bottom of the second.
Junior Cosme Caballero scored each of MU's first two runs of the game. In the third inning, he walked and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Gary Arndt. With two outs in the inning, senior Ryan Rallo swung a missed at strike three for what would have been the final out of the inning, but the Jayhawks catcher, Sean Richardson, dropped the ball and then overthrew first base trying to get Rallo at first. Rallo reached safely and Caballero would scored all the way from second base on the error.
Kansas regained the lead with two runs in the bottom of the fourth when the Tigers made two errors on a ground ball by KU's Matt Baty, allowing Jared Schweitzer and A.J. Van Slyke to score.
Caballero scored his second run of the game and the second run for MU in the fifth as he doubled and was driven in on a single by Rallo, cutting the Jayhawk lead to 3-2.
The Tigers had an opportunity to add runs as they had the bases loaded with one out in the seventh, but a double play turned by Kansas put an end to the scoring threat.
Kansas added a run with a pair of doubles in the bottom of the seventh inning. Ryan Baty doubled and would score on a double by J. C. Sibley to give the Jayhawks a two-run lead.
Mizzou cut the lead to one, getting a run in the eighth inning without a hit. Three walks and a KU error allowed sophomore James Boone to score the Tigers third run of the afternoon.
MU tried to mount a ninth-inning rally, getting runners to second and third, but were unable to get anyone across the plate.
The Tigers will return home to face Southeast Missouri State on Wednesday at Taylor Stadium. Next weekend, Mizzou will host Oklahoma State in the final regular season series of the year. For tickets call 1-800 CAT PAWS or 884-PAWS in Columbia. All Mizzou Baseball games, can be heard on the ZRG Radio Network (1580 KTGR in Columbia) with Tex Little and Luke Cassis providing the commentary. The broadcasts can also be heard online www.KTGR.com.