March 24, 2002

Box Score

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Baylor's bats came alive Sunday, pounding out 13 hits for an 11-8 win over Missouri at Simmons Field. With the victory, the eighth-ranked Bears narrowly avoided a series sweep at the hands of the Tigers.

Baylor (19-8, 8-4 Big 12) has only been swept three times in five-plus seasons as a member of the Big 12 Conference (vs. Oklahoma State, 1998, at Texas Tech, 2000, at Nebraska, 2001). With Missouri (9-13, 2-7 Big 12) winning Friday and Saturday, the Bears failed to win the season series from the Tigers for the first time since the two teams became Big 12 opponents.

Starter Justin Taylor (5-1) was the recipient of Baylor's offensive output. Taylor went seven innings, allowing four runs (none earned) on five hits. The senior struck out seven and walked four before leaving with a 10-4 lead.

In the second, the Bears pushed across a single run for a 1-0 lead. Michael Griffin started the inning with a double down the left line, moved to third on a groundout by David Murphy and scored on a sacrifice bunt by Trey Webb.

With rain coming down off and on throughout the game, the wet playing conditions led to a pair of throwing errors in the bottom of the second as Missouri scored four unearned runs for a 4-1 lead. With one out, third baseman Luke Cassis grounded to Webb at shortstop, but Webb's throw to first base bounced past Mike Huggins, allowing Cassis to reach. Brent Lacy followed with a single to right, moving Cassis to second. Tony Vitello then grounded to Griffin, whose throw also skipped past Huggins, Vitello reached second, Lacy moved to third, and Cassis scored on the play. Jayce Tingler's grounder to first was the second out of the inning but scored Lacy for Missouri's second run. Jody Roughton followed with a double to left, plating Vitello, and Lee Laskowski drove in Roughton with a single to center before being thrown out at second base.

Trailing 4-1, Baylor answered with two runs in the third. With two outs and the bases loaded, Griffin singled up the middle to drive in Richmond and Chris Durbin and cut the lead to 4-3. Murphy followed Griffin with a walk, but Webb struck out to leave the bases loaded and the Bears trailing by one.

Baylor tied the game in the fourth. Paul Witt was hit by the first pitch of the inning, stole second and moved to third when the catcher's throw sailed into center field. Paul Richmond's grounder to second drove in Witt to tie the game at 4-4.

With one out in the fifth, Griffin tripled to straightaway center off the centerfielder's glove, and Murphy drove him home with a groundout to put Baylor on top 5-4. In the sixth, Mike Huggins' two-RBI single put the Bears up 7-4 and knocked Mizzou starter Garrett Broshuis out of the game.

Three walks and a hit batsman by reliever Matt Hobbs forced in a run in the seventh and forced Hobbs out of the game in favor of Derek Roper. Richmond greeted Roper with a two-run single to give Baylor a 10-4 lead.

Zane Carlson relieved Taylor to start the eighth for Baylor and got only one out, giving up a double, a walk and a grounder to third that Griffin dropped for an error. Kyle Edens relieved Carlson with the bases loaded. Edens allowed two singles as all four runs scored before striking out the final batter of the inning, escaping with a two-run lead.

Steve Dorneman, a late-inning defensive replacement in left field, drove in an insurance run in the ninth with a sacrifice bunt after Durbin had walked to open the inning and Huggins had singled to right.

Edens retired Missouri 1-2-3 in the ninth to close out the game.

Even as the offense pounded out 13 hits, the margin of victory could have been even bigger. Baylor left 14 men on base Sunday, one shy of the team's season high.

Richmond, Durbin and Griffin each recorded three hits on the day. Richmond led the Bears with three RBI and Paul Witt, making his second straight start at second base, scored three times.

Five Baylor errors (three by Webb, two by Griffin) contributed to six unearned runs against the Baylor pitching staff.

The Bears return home this week to face TCU Tuesday night at Baylor Ballpark. Game time is set for 6 p.m.