April 30, 2006
Box Score
COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Jacob Priday's two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth broke a 1-1 tie as Missouri defeated Baylor 3-1 in Sunday's Big 12 Conference series finale at Simmons Field. With the win, Missouri (21-21, 9-12) wins the series two games to one.
By virtue of Oklahoma's 17-2 win over Kansas in Sunday's first game, Baylor (27-19, 10-11) ends the weekend fifth in the Big 12 standings with two series remaining over the regular season's final three weeks.
Evan Frey led off the eighth with a single off the foot of Baylor pitcher Jeff Mandel, who recovered the ball and tried to get Frey at first. However, Mandel's throw was wide, allowing Frey to reach second. Priday then failed on two attempts to sacrifice Frey to third and fouled off an 0-2 Mandel offering. Priday took the next pitch deep over the left-centerfield wall for the game-winning blast.
That made a winner of Missouri reliever Max Scherzer (4-1), who held the Bears to one unearned run on three hits and three walk with six strikeouts over the game's final 4.0 innings.
The Bears had an opportunity to break the 1-1 tie themselves in the top of the eighth but stranded runners at second and third. Baylor loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth, but Scherzer struck out Ben Booker to end the game. Baylor stranded eight runners on the day, six in scoring position.
Mandel (0-2) took the loss, allowing three runs on eight hits and a walk with two strikeouts over 8.0-plus innings. Randall Linebaugh recorded the final three outs of the eighth, entering the game after Priday's home run.
Missouri got on the board in the bottom of the fourth, thanks to a pair of well-placed base hits. Jacob Priday led off with a check-swing infield single down the third-base line. Zane Taylor followed with a hit-and-run single through the vacated hole at shortstop, pushing Priday to third. Derek Chambers then plated Priday with a sacrifice fly to center.
Baylor knotted the score in the seventh. Seth Fortenberry recorded his first of two doubles on the day and moved to third on an errant pickoff attempt. Tim Jackson then scored Fortenberry on a suicide squeeze.
Tiger starter Rick Zagone (3-2) allowed just two hits - both by Zach Dillon - and one walk with three strikeouts over 5.0 innings.
Fortenberry and Zach Dillon accounted for four of Baylor's five hits on the day, each recording two. Chase Gerdes also had a single and walked in two plate appearances.
Baylor returns to action Tuesday, hosting Texas-Arlington for a 6 p.m. CDT first pitch at Baylor Ballpark. The Bears defeated the Mavericks 17-4 at home in February and 9-4 at Arlington in March. Baylor is expected to start right-hander Randall Linebaugh (4-0, 3.00).
NOTES: Baylor leads the all-time series 23-18, including an 8-7 advantage in games played at Columbia. The Bears are 19-17 against the Tigers since the inception of the Big 12 Conference in 1997, including a 16-14 mark in regular-season meetings. Baylor is 21-17 against Missouri under head coach Steve Smith. Missouri has won six of the last seven meetings.
