Zagurski Leads KU to 9-3 Victory Over Missouri
May 14, 2005
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Senior left-handed pitcher Mike Zagurski struck out 12 batters in his second complete game performance of the season as the University of Kansas baseball team downed Border Showdown rival Missouri, 9-3, on Saturday at Taylor Field in Columbia, Mo.
The win knots the series at one game apiece and improves KU’s overall record to 34-24 and 9-13 in Big 12 action. Meanwhile, Missouri falls to 33-17 this season and 13-10 in league play.
Zagurski improved his record to 7-4 on the season as he won his third consecutive start. The Omaha, Neb, native allowed only three runs on eight hits and walked none in the contest.
The Jayhawks tallied the game’s first run in the top of the second inning to take their first lead of the series at 1-0. With two outs, junior first baseman Jared Schweitzer doubled to left field and scored in the next at bat on a RBI single from designated hitter John Allman.
After the Tigers were able to take a 2-1 advantage on a two-run double by right fielder Jacob Priday in the bottom of the second, KU responded with a run of its own in the top of the third to tie the game at 2-2. With one out in the frame, juniors Matt Baty and Ritchie Price collected back-to-back hits to give the Jayhawks runners at the corners. Left fielder A.J. Van Slyke plated his team-leading 55th RBI of the season in the next at bat on a sacrifice fly to center field.
In the top of the sixth inning, KU took advantage of an error to plate three runs and open a 5-2 advantage. Van Slyke led off the inning with an infield single and was in danger of being stranded after the next two hitters were retired. In the next at bat, Schweitzer grounded a ball to Missouri third baseman John McKee, who throw wildly to first allowing Schweitzer to reach second and Van Slyke to come home. John Allman was intentionally walked in the next at bat, putting runners on first and second with two outs and was followed by Ryne Price, who drew a walk to load the bases. Freshman Erik Morrison delivered the clutch hit as he singled up the middle to drive in both runners.
Ritchie Price, who finished the game 3-for-5 at the plate, added to the Jayhawk lead in the top of the seventh as connected on his second home run of the season, a solo shot over the wall in right field. Senior Andy Scholl came off the bench to pinch hit for KU in the frame and plated a run on a sacrifice fly increasing the KU lead to 7-2.
Tiger catcher J.C. Field cut the Kansas lead to 7-3 with a RBI single in the home half of the seventh.
In the top of the ninth, the Jayhawks added a pair of insurance runs on RBI doubles by Schweitzer and Scholl sending Zagurski back to the mound in the bottom of the ninth in search of the complete game.
The win was the first for Kansas against the Tigers in Columbia since April 20, 1997.
The victory was the 100th for head coach Ritch Price since taking over the KU baseball program prior to the 2003 season. In three seasons at Kansas, Price has compiled a 100-83-1 record.
The Jayhawks and Tigers round out the three-game set tomorrow with the series finale from Taylor Stadium at 1 p.m. Kansas will send junior right-handed pitcher Kodiak Quick (9-5) to the mound as it attempts to win its third consecutive Big 12 series.
The game can be heard in Lawrence on KLWN (1320 AM).
