April 17, 2005
Box Score
LAWRENCE, Kan. - No. 12 Baylor scored two runs on just one hit in the top of the ninth inning Sunday, rallying to defeat Kansas 3-2 in the Big 12 Conference series finale at Hoglund Ballpark. With the win, Baylor (25-13, 12-3) sweeps Kansas (24-18, 3-9) for the sixth time in nine series as Big 12 Conference foes.
Zach Dillon got the rally started for Baylor with a one-out single to center, and Reid Brees followed with a four-pitch walk. Kansas then brought in closer Don Czyz, who issued a wild pitch to advance both runners. Chase Gerdes then grounded out to second, scoring pinch runner Seth Fortenberry from third and tying the game. Three pitches later, Czyz issued another wild pitch, and pinch runner Jake Rippee scored the eventual winning run.
Ryan LaMotta retired the Jayhawks in order in the bottom of the ninth with two strikeouts for his second save of the season. LaMotta runs his streak of consecutive scoreless innings to 27.2, covering his last 13 appearances. Abe Woody (4-1) earned the victory in relief, holding Kansas scoreless and hitless with one walk and two strikeouts in 3.2 innings.
The Bears got on the board in the top of the third thanks to a pair of two-out hits. With Michael Griffin at first and one out, Josh Ford singled through the middle and pushed Griffin to third. Dillon followed with an RBI double down the right-field line.
Kansas nearly evened the score in the bottom of the inning, but a miraculous Brees catch kept the Jayhawks off the scoreboard. With a runner at third and two outs, Jared Schweitzer laced a line drive into the left-center gap. However, Brees, half diving and half falling down, snagged the ball just before it landed, saving the run and ending the inning.
Brees could not preserve the shutout in the fourth, though, as Gus Milner led off the inning with solo home run to left-center.
Back-to-back one-out singles followed by a walk loaded the bases for the Jayhawks in the fifth. Richardson then hit a looping ground ball to the right side of the infield that Michael Griffin corralled and tossed to first just in time to get Richardson. However, Ritchie Price scored from third on the play, putting the Jayhawks ahead 2-1.
After Dillon's RBI double in the third, Kansas starter Kodiak Quick did not allow another hit until Dillon's single in the ninth. The only other base runner he allowed in that time was Paul Witt, who was hit by a pitch to lead off the eighth and was quickly erased on a ground-ball double play.
Quick (8-4) suffered the tough-luck loss, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks with five strikeouts in 8.1 innings. Baylor starter Cory VanAllen lasted 4.1 innings and allowed two runs on six hits and three walks with two strikeouts.
Baylor returns to action Tuesday, April 19, traveling to Fort Worth, Texas, for a 7 p.m. CDT game against TCU at Lupton Stadium. The Bears defeated the Horned Frogs 4-3 earlier this season at Baylor Ballpark.
NOTES: Baylor leads the all-time series 28-3, including a 12-3 advantage in games played at Lawrence. The Bears are 23-3 against the Jayhawks since the inception of the Big 12 Conference in 1997 and have won eight straight meetings. ... Baylor has won seven straight Big 12 games for the first time since the Bears had a seven-game streak in 2001. ... Josh Ford extended his hitting streak to 14 games with a third-inning single. He has reached base safely in 33 consecutive games and in 37 of 38 games this season. ... Dillon extended his hitting streak to nine games, a career long. ... Kyle Reynolds saw his four-game streak end. ... Baylor improves to 7-3 this season in games started by VanAllen. ... The Bears are 9-1 this season on Sunday and 10-1 in Championship Gold jerseys. ... Sunday's victory was Baylor's sixth win in its final at bat this season.
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