March 18, 2006

Box Score

WACO, Texas -- John Allman's two-strike, two-out RBI single up the middle in the top of the ninth snapped a 5-5 tie and propelled No. 25 Kansas to a 6-5 victory over No. 22 Baylor in Saturday's middle game of the three-game Big 12 Conference series at Baylor Ballpark. It was the Jayhawks' first-ever victory in Waco, snapping the Bears' 16-game winning streak at home against KU.

The weekend series is now tied 1-1 after Kansas (16-7, 1-1) snapped Baylor's (13-6, 1-1) nine-game winning streak in the all-time series.

Ritchie Price reached on a one-out infield single and moved to second on a Jared Schweitzer single through the left side under the glove of a diving Baylor shortstop Kevin Russo. After Baylor closer Jeff Mandel struck out Gus Milner, who was 4-for-4 on the day prior to that at bat, Allman bounced a four-hopper up the middle to score Price.

Baylor got a runner on with one out in the bottom of the ninth but could not score the run. The Bears left 13 runners stranded on the day, including six in the last three innings and eight runners in scoring position. Baylor also had a runner thrown out at home on an attempted first-and-third double steal.

Neither starter factored in the decision. Cory VanAllen allowed five runs on seven hits and four walks with six strikeouts in 6.0 innings of work. Kansas starter Ricky Fairchild lasted 6.1 innings and was touched for five runs on 10 hits and three walks with four strikeouts.

Mandel (0-1) was saddled with the loss, allowing one run on four hits with three strikeouts in 2.0 innings. Don Czyz (3-0) earned the victory for Kansas, holding the Bears scoreless on one hit and three walks with one strikeout in 2.2 innings.

The complexion of the game changed in the top of the third when Kansas scored four runs on a walk and three straight hits. Trailing 4-1 entering the inning, the Jayhawks got an Allman RBI single to shallow right and an Erik Morrison three-run homer to take a 5-4 lead.

Baylor tied the game in the sixth on a Kevin Russo groundout. The Bears had chances in the seventh and eighth innings to take the lead but could not capitalize, leaving runners at first and second in the seventh and the bases loaded in the eighth.

Chase Gerdes finished 3-for-3 for the Bears, while Matt Sodolak turned in his third straight multiple-hit game with a single and a double.

Kansas scored a run on a two-out Milner RBI single in the first, but the Bears were quick to answer with four runs on four hits in the bottom of the frame. Dillon had an RBI groundout, followed by a Tim Jackson sacrifice fly and consecutive RBI doubles from Sodolak and Ben Booker, respectively.

Baylor and Kansas conclude their three-game series Sunday at 1 p.m. CST. The Bears send right-hander Tim Matthews (1-2, 4.09) to the mound, opposite Kansas right-hander Kodiak Quick (3-1, 1.82).