March 25, 2001
Box Score
LAWRENCE, Kan. - Matt Williams slapped a two-out, three-run home run to cap a five-run Baylor first inning as the 16th-ranked Bears defeated Kansas 7-4 here Sunday. The victory gave Baylor (21-8, 9-3) its first Big 12 Conference sweep of the season. Kansas, meanwhile, falls to 14-14 and 2-10.
The Bears got things going in the first with back-to-back doubles by Chris Durbin and Kelly Shoppach, the latter scoring the former. Paul Richmond then singled in Shoppach. Two batters later, Ron Zboril singled to left, setting the table for Williams' fifth home run of the season.
Baylor added a run in the top of the second, laying claim to a 6-0 lead before the Jayhawks put two on the board in the bottom of the second on a Ryan Klocksien two-run homer. From there, Baylor starter Justin Taylor dominated, holding the Jayhawks scoreless until the eighth. That's when Kansas made things interesting with a pair of runs on Klocksien's two-run double, cutting the Baylor lead to 6-4.
However, David Murphy gave Baylor some insurance in the top of the ninth with a two-out double that scored Williams. Zane Carlson entered with one out in the bottom of the frame and closed the door for his fourth save of the season.
Taylor (3-1) picked up the victory in just his third-career start, he allowed four runs on six hits with two walks and eight strike outs over seven-plus innings. Kyle Edens entered in the eighth, allowing a hit and a walk with two strike outs in one and one-third innings of work. Carlson recorded strike outs for both of his outs in the bottom of the ninth.
Doug Lantz (1-2) went the distance for Kansas. He allowed seven runs on nine hits with two walks and 10 strike outs and held the Bears hitless from the fourth to the eighth.
Williams again carried the big bat for the Bears, going 2-for-4 with two runs and three RBI. He raised his batting average nearly 60 points in the three-game series at Kansas. Williams had a home run in each game and is now hitting .326 on the season. Zboril also had a pair of hits on the day for Baylor. Shoppach extended his hitting streak to 20 games with his first-inning double.
Baylor will return to action Tuesday, hosting Southwest Missouri State at 6 p.m. in the first of a two-game midweek series. The two teams will meet again Wednesday at 3 p.m.
