Baylor
Missouri
Show of Force: Baseball Hammers Mizzou 15-9
4/3/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 3, 2004
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Baylor blasted five home runs, two by Michael Griffin, en route to a 15-9 victory over Missouri here Saturday. The Bears (11-18, 3-5) even the three-game Big 12 Conference series with the victory. Missouri falls to 21-7-1 and 2-3 in Big 12 play.
Leading 3-1, Baylor erupted for six runs on five hits in the top of the fourth. Kyle Reynolds had the big hit in the inning, a three-run line-drive homer that just cleared wall in right. Later in the inning, Zach Dillon hammered a 415-foot homer to right-center, his first round-tripper of the season. The Tigers cut into the Bears lead on two occasions in the late innings, but Missouri never got to within four runs after Baylor's six-run fourth.
Reid Brees led Baylor with four hits on the day, one of five Bears with at least two hits. Baylor pounded 18 hits, matching the team's season high. The 15 runs scored is a Baylor high since plating 15 runs against Centenary last May. Griffin and Mike Pankratz had three hits each. Eight of Baylor's nine starters had at least one hit and all nine reached base at least once.
Baylor starter Trey Taylor (3-3) earned the victory, allowing five runs, four earned, on six hits and three walks with three strikeouts in 6.0-plus innings.
After Baylor's six-run fourth, the Tigers scored once in the fourth and sixth innings with a one-run Baylor fifth sandwiched between.
A three-run Missouri seventh cut the Bears' lead to 10-6. However, Baylor answered with three in the top of the eighth to keep the Tigers at bay. Missouri put up another three-spot in the eighth, but the Bears again answered with two runs in the top of the ninth. Baylor entered Saturday's game with six eighth-and-ninth-inning runs all season and scored five Saturday.
Missouri starter Erik Dessau (5-2) took the loss after allowing three runs on six hits and a walk with two strikeouts in 3.0 innings. The Tigers used four relievers, all of whom surrendered at least two runs.
Baylor and Missouri play the rubber game of the series Sunday at 1 p.m. CDT. The Bears send southpaw Jared Theodorakos (3-0) to the mound opposite Missouri right-hander Garrett Broshuis (6-0).
Notes: Baylor holds a 20-11 advantage in the all-time series, 6-5 in games played at Columbia. ... Baylor's five home runs Saturday are the most in a game since May 6, 2003 when the Bears had five against Centenary. The Bears' 15 runs scored are the most in a Big 12 game since April 18, 2003 when the Bears dropped a 23-18 decision at home against Missouri. It is the highest run output in a road conference game since a 16-11 victory April 12, 2003 at Oklahoma State. ... Reid Brees extended his career-long hitting streak to 10 games, matching Mike Pankratz for the longest streak by a Baylor batter this season. ... Michael Griffin also extended his hitting streak to eight games, his longest stretch of the season. ... 13 of Kyle Reynolds' 17 RBI this season have come in Saturday games.
