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California team out of element
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By JOSÉ ALFREDO FLORES
of the Tribune staff
Story ran on Sunday, March 18, 2001 Apparently the boys from Malibu couldn’t take the freezing temperatures at Taylor Field.As the day grew longer in the double-header between No. 6 Pepperdine and Missouri and the thermometer dipped further, the Tiger runs began to pile up. Poor pitching, fielding errors and lack of run production spelled doom for the Waves (15-7) as the Tigers swept them 9-5, 13-4 yesterday. "They were in our element today," said MU pitcher Drew Endicott (2-3) in his first home game of the season. "I think we really took advantage of it. The California boys had to have the heaters on over there. So we wanted to put it to ’em." Missouri (11-8-1) did not need to use heaters in their bench as their performance on the field and at the plate kept them warm. In game one the Tigers took advantage of two errors, four balks by Wave pitcher Dan Haren (4-1) that included three in the fifth inning, and several defensive lapses to score nine runs on only five hits. The Tigers scored four runs in the critical fifth inning in game one, on two singles and two Wave errors. Missouri’s Ryan Stegall and W.T. Hoover each scored on balks in the fifth. Freshman Lee Laskowski’s two-run home run to right center in the seventh inning sealed the deal for the Tigers. "I didn’t expect to get as much scoring as we did against quality pitching," Jamieson said. "Those two guys were 10-0 entering the weekend, and they’ve beaten good teams. We probably caught these guys at the right time." Game two featured even more exploitation of Wave mistakes. Starting pitcher Noah Lowry (6-1) took the loss for Pepperdine, allowing four runs in 5 2/3 innings. The Tigers completely dismantled the Pepperdine bullpen, scoring eight runs in the eighth inning on seven hits and two errors. The hardest hit of the Wave pitchers was Eric Valenzuela who suffered five runs, all earned, faced six batters and allowed five hits in only a 1/3 inning’s work in the eighth. Tiger third baseman Jon Williams started the onslaught with a two-run, bases-loaded single as the first batter to face Valenzuela, who replaced the ineffective Kevin Beavers. Tiger starter Shaun Marcum struggled, allowing three runs on eight hits in 4 2/3 innings work. Reliever Jon Harris (2-0) picked up the win in game two allowing no runs and one hit in two innings. The Tigers escaped a scare in the fifth inning with Pepperdine leaving the bases loaded. Harris struck out Wave rightfielder Dane Ball looking to end the inning. "I didn’t feel like their starting pitching struggled," Jamieson said. "We were very opportunistic against their starters, moving runners. They didn’t play great defense behind the two starters. Once you get in the bullpen, it’s a different ballgame." The Tigers ended the double dip with fewer hits (17) than runs scored (22), but Jamieson is satisfied to pick up the crucial wins. The Tigers will close out the weekend series against Pepperdine Sunday at 1 p.m. "We’ll take wins however we can take them, don’t care if they’re ugly or good," he said. "We swept the sixth ranked team in the country, we felt good about it, and we’ll be ready to come out tomorrow and finish this thing off."
Reach José Alfredo Flores at (573) 815-1780 or sports@tribmail.com |
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