May 25, 2005
Box Score
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - - Sophomore Hunter Mense drove in his fourth run of the game on a single in the bottom of the ninth inning to give Mizzou an 8-7 win over Oklahoma in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament in Oklahoma City, Okla. on Wednesday night.
After the Sooners tied the score at seven with a three-run top of the ninth, junior Derek Chambers led off the bottom half of the inning with a double and would score when a ball hit by Mense took an awkward hop over the OU second baseman.
Mense finished the game 3-for-4 and matched his career high with the four RBI. Chambers also had three hits, finishing 3-for-5 with one RBI and a pair of runs scored.
Oklahoma jumped out to a quick lead with three runs in the top of the first inning. After the three runs scored, junior Taylor Parker and the Tigers retired seven of the next nine OU batters to the plate.
The Tigers (38-19) took the lead with a four-run bottom of the third inning. After a groundout and a walk to sophomore Gary Arndt to start the inning, junior Trevor Helms doubled and junior Derek Chambers singled to drive in Arndt with the first run. Helms would score on a passed ball and a double by sophomore Hunter Mense drove in Chambers. Mense scored the final run of the inning on a single by junior Zane Taylor.
The Sooners retook the lead with a run in the fifth inning, as Aaron Ivey singled to drive in Freddy Rodriguez who had led off the inning with a single.
The lead would switch hands again when Missouri put two runs on the board in the bottom of the seventh inning. Helms and junior James Boone each reached on singles and would score on a triple by Mense.
Missouri added an insurance run in the eighth team as sophomore John McKee doubled, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by junior Tyler Williams and scored on a sacrifice fly by sophomore Gary Arndt.
Oklahoma (33-23) would rally for three runs in the top of the ninth inning to tie the score at seven. With two outs in the inning and two strikes, pinch hitter Jeff Scuderi singled for the Sooners, driving in two runs, the second of which tied the game.
Parker, who started the second straight game for Missouri, allowed three runs, two of which were earned, on just two hits in three innings pitched before turning the pitching duties over to junior Doug Mathis. Mathis pitched five innings, allowing one run on four hits and striking out four.
Mizzou will face the No. 8-seeded Texas Tech Red Raiders on Thursday with first pitch set for 8 p.m. The Tigers won two of three over TTU during the regular season.