March 27, 2009
Box Score | Quotes
WACO, Texas - A.J. Morris struck out 10 and allowed only one unearned run in a complete-game effort as Kansas State defeated eighth-ranked Baylor 7-1 in Friday night's Big 12 Conference series opener at Baylor Ballpark. Baylor (15-6, 3-4) suffered its first loss at Kansas State (21-5, 2-2) during the Big 12 era, falling to 19-2 all-time against the Wildcats in Waco.
Kansas State scored three runs on four hits and a Baylor error in the top of the second. Dane Yelovich and Adam Muenster had back-to-back one-out RBI singles, and Nick Martini plated the third run with a two-out RBI single. The Wildcats added to their lead with single spots in the fourth and fifth innings.
Baylor cracked the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth when Ben Booker walked, stole second and scored on a two-out error. Kansas State closed the scoring with single runs in the eighth and ninth innings.
Morris (7-0) scattered six hits and two walks in tossing his first career complete game; he became the nation's first seven-game winner this season.
Baylor starter Kendal Volz (2-2) allowed five runs, three earned, on 10 hits and one walk with four strikeouts over 7.0 innings.
Aaron Miller had two of Baylor's six hits on the night, extending his career-long hitting streak to 17 games. That is the longest in the Big 12 this season and the longest by a Baylor player since Matt Czimskey's 19-game run in 2007. Miller also has reached safely in each game this season.
Muenster, Martini and Carter Jurica all had three-hit games for the Wildcats, while Yelovich and Jordan Cruz had two hits each.
Weather conditions played a part in the game as temperatures hovered in the upper 40s with winds from the northwest at 20-25 mph for a wind chill in the 30s.
Baylor and Kansas State continue the series Saturday with a 6:30 p.m. CDT first pitch. The Bears send right-hander Logan Verrett (6-0, 2.08 ERA) to the mound, while the Wildcats counter with southpaw Lance Hoge (3-1, 4.30 ERA).
NOTES: Baylor leads the all-time series 29-12, including a 28-11 advantage during the Big 12 era and a 28-9 advantage in regular-season Big 12 meetings. ... Kansas State was the last Big 12 program to have never won a conference game in Waco. ... Volz has been given two or fewer runs of support in nine of his last 14, including three starts against Kansas State. He suffered the loss in all three outings against Kansas State despite a 3.66 ERA. ... Lucas Hileman was held hitless for the first time in his career, snapping an eight-game streak. ... Baylor fell to 11-2 this season in night games. ... The Bears are 1-4 this season when the temperature at first pitch is below 60 degrees. ... Dustin Dickerson (eight games) and Shaver Hansen (three games) both extended hitting streaks, while Raynor Campbell (four games), Gregg Glime (three games) and Dan Evatt (three games) all saw streaks end.
