April 25, 2003

Box Score

LAWRENCE, Kan. - Kansas scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth to come from behind and beat No. 21 Baylor Friday night in the series opener, 4-3.

The loss for Baylor (28-17, 9-10 Big 12) wasted a tremendous effort by starter Steven White (5-3). The senior lasted 7 2/3 innings, striking out 11 and allowing just six hits. White left the game with two on and two out in the bottom of the eighth, leading 3-2, but took the loss when both runners scored.

Baylor recorded at least one hit in each of the first three innings against Kansas (32-16, 7-9 Big 12), but grounded into inning-killing double plays in each frame. Kansas starter Ryan Knippschild (8-3) cruised through the fourth and fifth innings before Baylor put up three runs in the sixth.

After Paul Witt walked to start the inning, the next three batters (Chris Durbin, David Murphy and Josh Ford each followed with singles. Ford's single to left plated Witt and Durbin, and Michael Griffin drove home Murphy with a fielders' choice as the Bears took a 3-0 lead.

Kansas struck back with two runs in the bottom of the sixth. After sailing through the first five innings without a walk, White walked the first two batters in the sixth. After a sacrifice bunt and a strikeout, DH Kevin Wheeler came through with a two-out line-drive single just off the glove of a leaping Witt at second that scored both runners to bring Kansas within one at 3-2.

White gave up a single and a walk in the eighth before giving way to Zane Carlson with two outs in the inning. After getting the first batter, Casey Spanish, down in the count 0-2, Carlson threw his first wild pitch of the season, allowing the two runners to each move up a base. The next pitch skipped through catcher Josh Ford's legs for a passed ball, allowing the tying run to score, and Spanish came through with a single to center to drive in the go-ahead run.

Knippschild allowed seven hits in eight innings and only struck out three, but earned the win by inducing the three double plays and stranding four other Bears. Brandon Johnson took over for the Jayhawks to start the ninth and retired the Bears in order for his seventh save of the year.

The two teams square off again Saturday at 2 p.m., then finish the series Sunday at 1 p.m.

NOTES: Murphy extended his career-best hitting streak to 13 games; the streak is also best on the team this season... The Bears, who had averaged 11 runs a game for the month of April, were held to their lowest scoring total since an 11-3 loss to Texas three weeks earlier.