March 21, 2008

Box Score

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- No. 4 Missouri scored four first-inning runs, and No. 14 Baylor never could recover as the Bears dropped a 7-0 decision to the Tigers in Friday night's Big 12 Conference series opener at Taylor Stadium. Baylor (13-5, 2-2) suffered its first shutout in Big 12 play since April 28, 2006, when the Bears lost a 7-0 game in the series opener at Missouri.

Greg Folgia led off the bottom of the first with an infield single and moved to third on a Kendal Volz wild pitch. Kurt Calvert followed with an RBI single. Missouri (16-2, 1-0) finished the inning with four runs, three of which were earned, on two hits, three walks and a Baylor error.

The Tigers added an Aaron Senne leadoff homer in the third, and Senne capped the scoring with a two-out, two-run single in the fourth.

That was all the run support Missouri starter Aaron Crow (5-0) needed, tossing a three-hit, complete-game shutout with 10 strikeouts against three walks. It was the second consecutive complete-game shutout for Crow, who ran his consecutive innings scoreless streak to 25.0 by game's end. He capped the gem by striking out the side in the ninth.

Baylor had few offensive opportunities on the night. Ben Booker led off the game with a single and took third on Crow's errant pickoff attempt, but he was stranded there.

The Bears did not get another hit until the seventh when Dustin Dickerson and Adam Hornung led off the inning with consecutive singles. However, a double play thwarted Baylor's scoring chances. The Bears hit into three double plays on the night after hitting into three in the season's first 17 games.

Volz (3-1) took the loss, allowing seven runs, four earned, on six hits and four walks with five strikeouts over 4.0 innings. Wade Mackey worked the final 4.0 innings and held Missouri scoreless on one hit and a walk with one strikeout.

Baylor and Missouri continue the series Saturday at 2 p.m. CDT. The Bears send right-hander Shawn Tolleson (2-0, 4.43 ERA) to the mound. The Tigers counter with right-hander Ian Berger (2-0, 0.39 ERA).