MU loses weekend games

By Lenny Goldman
April 8, 2008

Junior pitcher Rick Zagone delivers to an Oklahoma State batter during Sunday’s game at Taylor Stadium. Zagone gave up six hits and two runs as the Tigers lost the game 8-6 and the series 2-1.

Photo/Jeff Lautenberger

Junior pitcher Rick Zagone delivers to an Oklahoma State batter during Sunday’s game at Taylor Stadium. Zagone gave up six hits and two runs as the Tigers lost the game 8-6 and the series 2-1.

(Click graphic to enlarge)

Junior pitcher Aaron Crow soared past Oklahoma State on Friday night by delivering another complete game shutout, but without him, the Tigers could barely get off the ground for the rest of the weekend.

“It was definitely important for us to come out tonight and make a statement to Oklahoma State and ourselves: to make sure that we get this thing turned around and that we don’t let it continue so we start winning games again,” Crow said after the game on Friday when he extended his scoreless streak to 42 and two-thirds innings.

Yet the Tigers’ statement must have been unclear because the Cowboys proceeded to take games two and three of the series by scores of 6-2 and 8-6. Missouri has now lost six of its last ten games and has a 6-6 record in the Big 12.

“Guys start to put pressure and you get tension in your swing, your thoughts aren’t the right way at the plate,” coach Tim Jamieson said after Sunday’s loss.

“Sure, it’s contagious because you got guys like ‘oh he didn’t get it done so I got to get it done,’ as opposed to ‘he’s going to get it done so I don’t have any pressure on me.’”

One player that did step up was first baseman Steve Gray, hitting his first career home run in the fourth inning on Sunday and following it up with another blast in the sixth.

“I don’t really know how to explain it,” Gray said. “I’ve been struggling a lot lately. I had to make a lot of mechanical adjustments, coach Pratte has been working really hard on that, and it seemed to pay off today. I put myself in some good counts and things worked out.”

Both home runs were unfortunate solo shots, and the Tigers continuously failed to take advantage of runners in scoring position.

“We’ve had chances to score runs,” Jamieson said. “It’s deflating when you know you’ve had chances to score runs and you just don’t do it. It makes it that much more difficult to get it done. In this game you’re only going to have so many chances.”

Freshman pitcher Nick Tepesch provided Missouri with one final chance on Sunday in the ninth inning. He entered the game in relief of junior Rick Zagone with the bases loaded and no one out. Courtesy of a rare 5-2-3 double play and a diving effort by second baseman Greg Folgia, the Cowboys couldn’t convert. Missouri returned the favor and failed to score in the bottom half of the ninth.

“We’re going to have to make some moves in our lineup because we’re not getting it done offensively, and we’re not getting it done defensively,” Jamieson said.

The Tigers haven’t won a game on a Saturday or Sunday in two weeks now, so they will need to learn how to rally behind team members other than Crow with six Big 12 series left, including one against Texas this weekend.

“When Crow is on the mound we’re always playing a lot better,” Jamieson said. “I told the team yesterday ‘we win as a team, we lose as a team.’ Aaron Crow is not the only guy that can win a game for us and we got to operate that way.”

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