Monday, March 12, 2001
The University Daily Kansan
Section B · Page 3
Jayhawks drop series with two weekend losses to Tigers
By Ryan Malashek
isy Ryan Malashock
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Kansas just can't seem to win one-run game.
Kansas senior shortstop John Nelson tries to grab a grounder after it glanced off the second-base umpire during the Jayhawks' game against Missouri Friday night at Hoglund Ballpark. Kansas won the game 7-4 but lost the next two games in the weekend series. Photo by Laurie Sisk/KANSAN
The Jayhawks' 1-0 loss against Missouri at Taylor Stadium yesterday was their fourth one-run loss in Big 12 Conference play and also their third conference series loss. The Jayhawks (8-9 overall and 2-7 in the Big 12) defeated the Tigers 7-4 Friday, but also lost 8-2 on Saturday.
Kansas coach Bobby Randall said the breaks just weren't going for the Jayhawks yesterday.
"We hit some balls today that could've helped us, and they just weren't falling," Randall said. "I'm proud with the way we fought today, and I told them that we'll start winning these close games if we keep fighting."
Kansas junior starter Justin Wilcher and Missouri freshman starter Shaun Marcum both opened the game with six shutout
innings. Doug Dreher led off the top of the seventh with a hard single up the middle. Jesse Gremminger followed with a sacrifice bunt attempt in which Missouri catcher Jon Williams unsuccessfully tried to throw Dreher out at second. After a Brent Del Chiaro sacrifice bunt, Ryan Klocksien ripped a 3-2 Marcum pitch toward left field. But Tiger shortstop Ryan Stegal made a diving catch and doubled Dreher off third base for Missouri's important inning-ending double play. Randall said Stegal made the play of the game.
"When Ryan Klocksien hit that rocket and it got caught, the momentum of the game totally changed," Randall said.
Missouri's W.T. Hoover scored the lone run of yesterday's game in the bottom half of the seventh inning on Luke Cassi's double over centerfielder Jason Appuhn's head.
Trailing 1-0. Kansas once again fell just short in a ninth-inning
comeback attempt.
Wilcher took the loss despite giving up just one earned run on five hits in seven innings. Wilcher was pitching for the first time in two weeks after suffering from soreness in his arm.
fell behind a few hitters, but I was just trying to keep them off balance," Wilcher said. "My changeup and fastball were both working and I was trying to get them to beat the ball in the ground or pop it up."
"I felt kind of rusty because I missed my last start, and I kind of
Kansas' victory Friday night was familiar — another Pete Smart start, another Jayhawk victory
The senior pitcher extended his record to 4-0 on the season in Kansas' 7-4 victory at Hoglund Ballpark. Smart surrendered four runs on nine hits before turning the game to junior closer Doug Lantz. Lantz shut out the Tigers in the last three innings and recorded his fifth save of the season.
Saturday, the Jayhawks stranded several key runners and made three crucial baserunning mistakes in their 8-2 loss to Missouri at Taylor Stadium. Randall was visibly upset with Kansas' lackluster performance.
"The they clutch-hit today, and we didn't," Randall said. "Two times we get leadoff doubles and can't score them, that's just bad hitting."
The Jayhawks resume action at 3 p.m. tomorrow against Illinois-Chicago at Hoglund Ballpark.
Baseball notes
With his 77th career stolen base Friday night, John Nelson broke the Big 12 career stolen base record, which was previously held by Jason Tyner of Texas A & M.
Appuhn's home run Saturday was his first of the season. The sophomore centerfielder led Kansas in hitting this weekend by going 5 for 10 (.500).
- Edited by Sydney Wallace
BOX SCORES
Friday
Kansas 031-003-00x - 7 12 4
First
Missourl 000-004-000 - 4122
Saturday
Kansas 011;000;000 : 2.6.0
Kansas 011-000-000 - 2 6 0
Missouri 101-112-02x - 8 9 3
WP. Smart, P. 4-O, LP. Endicott, D. 1,3. S-Lantz, D. (5)
WP-Hans, J. 1-0, LP-Wight, J. 2-3, S-Dale, I.
(1), B2-K, Nelson, J. (2), Spanish, C, (5),
Klockes, R, (4), M, Williams, J. (4), Welss M,
(3), Ehlers, C, (2), HR-K, Appuhn, J. (1), M,
Williams, J. (4).
Kansas 000-000-000 - 0.6 0
Missouri 000-000-10x · 15 0
WP. Marcum, S. 1.0. LP. Wilcher, J. 1.2. 5-Stegall, R. (3, 2B. K-Apphn, J. (2), M. Cassis, L. (2).
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