Big 12 hitting woes continue

Posted to Sports Blog by JJ Stankevitz at 2:13 a.m., April 4, 2009

With one out in the top of the ninth inning, Missouri starter Kyle Gibson was in trouble. With Missouri down one and struggling at the plate, Gibson could not afford to let OU score and go up two heading into the ninth inning.

With a runner on second, OU cleanup hitter Aaron Baker hit a towering fly ball to deep right-center field. As the ball traveled through the air, it looked more and more like it might clear the fence for an extremely demoralizing two-run home run. However, Missouri centerfielder Ryan Lollis drifted back to the wall, leapt, and brought back what was sure to be a home run.

On top of the spectacular catch, Lollis fired back toward the infield and doubled off the OU’s runner at second, who was crossing home plate as Lollis made what may have been the defensive play of the year for Missouri. With an energized crowd of 1,097 on its feet, it seemed like Lollis’ catch might be the play that sparked Missouri’s dormant offense.

However, as has been the case for most of the Big 12 season for Missouri, the offense was unable to come through and deliver as Missouri dropped its series opener with Oklahoma by a score of 2-1.

Missouri was only able to muster four hits off OU starter Andrew Doyle, who entered the game with a 4.97 ERA.

“He was hitting both sides of the plate, throwing changeups and keeping us off balance,” said Lollis, who had Missouri’s lone RBI, of Doyle’s performance. “Sometimes, that’s the way it goes.”

“I don’t know if I’m surprised anymore,” said coach Tim Jamieson of another disappointing offensive showing by his team. “It’s the 29th game and we haven’t been very good offensively. We’re still looking for the spark to get us going, and we didn’t get it tonight.”

Making the loss even more painful for Missouri was the superb start Gibson had after two shaky outings against Oklahoma State March 29 and SLU April 1. Gibson threw a complete game Friday night, allowing two runs (both earned) on six hits, one walk, and a whopping 15 strikeouts. “It [stinks],” said Lollis of Missouri’s inability to score for Gibson. “He was out there battling his butt off. All we wanted to do was help him win. When he comes out and pitches like that, you expect to win.”

The key play in the game came in the top of the fifth inning. With one out, OU picked up consecutive base hits to put runners on first and third with only one out. Gibson successfully pulled of a fake-to-third, throw-to-first move and had OU’s Casey Johnson, the runner at first base, caught in a rundown. Johnson was about halfway to first base when J.T. Wise, the runner on third base, broke for home. With Johnson just a few steps from second base, shortstop Michael Liberto decided to throw home in an attempt to keep Wise from scoring. Liberto’s throw was off target, allowing Wise to score and Johnson to end up safe at second. Later in the at-bat, Johnson attempted to steal third as OU’s Garrett Buechele ripped a line drive to third baseman Kyle Mach, who misplayed the ball allowing it to go into left field for a RBI single that put OU up 2-0.

“I can’t blame anyone for that,” Gibson said of the botched pickoff play. “It’s just one of those things that didn’t work out. Nine out of ten times, we’re going to get that guy at home plate.”

“We made a couple of defensive mistakes that were the difference in a 2-1 game,” Jamieson said.