April 2, 2006

Box Score

LAWRENCE, Kan. - - Despite a late rally by Mizzou, scoring three runs in the ninth inning, the Tigers dropped their series finale against Kansas 9-6 on Sunday in Lawrence. MU has lost two games in a row for just the second time this season.

Missouri (16-11, 6-3 Big 12) scored the first two runs of the game, getting a run in each of the first two innings before Kansas put the next five runs on the board.

Senior Zane Taylor, the second batter of the game, homered to straight away center field to get the Tigers on the board with an early 1-0 lead. The home run was Taylor's first of the season and the fifth of his career.

Missouri added a run in the second as seniors Derek Chambers and Trevor Helms opened the inning with back-to-back singles. Chambers would score on a sacrifice fly by junior Gary Arndt.

KU third baseman Erik Morrison hit his second home run in as many at-bats, with a solo shot to lead off the bottom of the second inning. Morrison, who had also homered in his final at-bat on Saturday, has eight home runs on the season.

Another KU home run in the third inning, a two-run shot by Jared Schweitzer, gave the Jayhawks their first lead of the day. Following the home run, Kansas loaded the bases, but a diving catch by Chambers on a ball hit down the first base line by Ryne Price saved at least two runs. Chambers was able to double up the runner at first base to end the inning.

Kansas (20-11, 4-5 Big 12) would add a run in the fourth inning and another in the bottom of the sixth to lead 5-2 after six innings.

Missouri got a run back when Arndt drove in his second run of the game on a two-out base hit to right field, driving in Helms.

Kansas scored four insurance runs in the eighth inning, which it would need as the Tigers rallied for three runs in the ninth. Freshman Kyle Mach led off the top of the ninth with a pinch-hit single and scored when sophomore Dan Pietroburgo followed with a double. Freshman David Cales then drove in Pietroburgo with a single through the left side. After a pair of walks, Cales would score on a sacrifice fly by junior Hunter Mense.

Mizzou will return home this week as it opens a five-game homestand against Missouri State at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday. All games can be heard on KTGR 1580-AM in Columbia and on the World Wide Web at www.KTGR.com. Live Stats for this weekend's games will be available through Gametracker on www.mutigers.com.