University of Missouri
Washington
Mizzou Routs Washington
3/5/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 5, 2004
SEATTLE, Wash.-- - Eight of the nine Tigers in the starting lineups had at least one hit as they pounded out 17 hits as a team in a 16-2 blowout over Washington in the opening game of a three-game series in Seattle. The offensive firepower combined with a strong pitching performance by starter Danny Hill helped Missouri improve to 11-2 on the year.
The Tigers scored early, putting two runs on the board in the top of the first inning as Husky freshman starting pitcher Richie Lentz struggled. Sophomore CF Tyler Williams scored the first run of the game without the aid of a hit. He walked to lead off the game and advanced to second on a wild pitch, went to third on another wild pitch and scored on a passed ball. Senior DH Lee Laskowski then singled to right field for the first MU hit of the game, driving in senior LF Ryan Rallo.
Washington cut into the Mizzou lead by scoring one in the bottom of the first inning.
Missouri got three hits in the top of the second inning, with the biggest coming off of the bat of Rallo. Senior 2B Jeremy Hernandez and sophomore SS Zane Taylor each singled. Then, with two outs, Rallo sent a blast well over the left field wall for his third home run of the season. The three-run shot also extended his hitting streak to 10 games.
Rallo's hit streak is a season long for MU, ahead of junior 3B Cosme Caballero, who extended his streak to eight games with a double to lead off the fourth inning.
Caballero and Williams, who reached on another walk, both scored when Rallo singled up the middle for two more RBI. Rallo would scored when an errant pick off attempt by UW pitcher Jamie Hawkins sailed over the head of the first baseman and rolled down the right field line. Rallo was credited with a stolen base and scored on the two-base error.
During Rallo's 10-game streak, he has a .412 batting average, three home runs, 16 RBI and has scored 11 runs.
The Tigers broke the game wide open with a seven-run seventh inning, the most runs scored in one inning by Mizzou this season. After senior 1B Cody Ehlers led off with a double and scored when Laskowski sent a shot over the wall if left for his third home run of the season. Laskowksi was 3-for-5 with three RBI on the night and extended his hitting streak to four games.
Williams, Taylor and Ehlers, batting for the second time in the seventh inning, all added RBI singles.
Washington added its second run of the game in the top of the ninth on a solo homer by James Allan.
Hill turned in his best performance of the 2004 season in picking up his first win of the year. He allowed just one run on seven hits in 7.1 innings of work, his longest outing of the season. Hill retired 13 straight Washington batters between the second and sixth innings.
The Tigers reacorded double-digits in runs for the fourth time this year. They have now won their last five games and have won five straight over Washington. Their 11-2 record is the best start to a season since the 1993 team was 11-2.
The Tigers and Huskies will play game two of the three game series at 3 p.m. CST on Saturday. Game three will be played at 1 p.m. CST on Sunday. The game time for Sunday has been moved up one hour to accommodate Mizzou's travel arrangements. The ZRG Radio Network (1580 KTGR in Columbia) will carry all of the games with Tex Little and Luke Cassis providing the commentary. The broadcasts can also be heard online www.KTGR.com.
