It was another exciting chapter in the legendary Border War as the Kansas Jayhawks defeated the Missouri Tigers 11-8 for an instant classic Tuesday night from Taylor Stadium in Columbia Missouri.
Kansas appeared to have the game in hand early and got it started instantly as second baseman Cade Baldridge hit a solo home run in the top of the first. Then center fielder Tyson Owens added an RBI single to make it 2-0 before Mizzou even came to bat. The Jayhawks plated two more in both the top of the third and fourth innings, to make it 6-0. The bottom of the fourth found some magic in the Mizzou bats.
Freshman catcher Juliomar Campos was the catalyst for it as he battled and battled, kept fouling off pitches with two strikes and got rewarded launching a two-run home run scoring left fielder Donovan Jordan to cut the deficit to 6-2 and it just spiraled for Kansas from there. Senior Keegan Knutson walked, first baseman Tyler Macon got an infield single and then shortstop Kaleb Durnin hustled out an infield single to load the bases. A two-run single by center fielder Kaden Peer followed by graduate Chase Woita getting hit by a pitch loaded them again. The moment wasn’t too big for superstar freshman Blaize Ward as he laced a triple up the first base line clearing the bases as Missouri took a 7-6 lead. Mizzou batted around with Jordan picking up an RBI double to make it 8-6. When asked about Ward, Tiger Head Coach Kerrick Jackson said “he’s a hitter he knows he’s a hitter” “Watching him grow and mature when the time calls for it he doesn’t try to do too much. He knows what he’s capable of doing.”
Mizzou chased three Kansas pitchers that inning in addition to two additional mound visits and Taylor Stadium was rocking like never seen before. It was a record-setting day at Taylor Stadium with an attendance record of 3,207 fans. It was also the most crowded this reporter has ever seen the press level. It was an electric atmosphere and despite only a two-run lead it felt like Mizzou would win, that wasn’t the case though.
Kansas chipped away instantly with Bach picking up an RBI single to score Schlotterback after a walk both came with two outs in the top of the fifth. Then in the eighth Schlotterback led off the inning with a single then advanced to second on a balk. Jordan Bach then tied the game with an RBI single. Cade Baldridge was able to leg out an infield single and then Tyson LeBlanc with the kill shot a three-run go ahead home run that gave the Jayhawks the 11-8 lead they wouldn’t relent.
Mizzou had runners on the corners with two outs in the bottom of the ninth but couldn’t plate anyone as Kansas held on for the victory. Tiger Jase Woita said postgame “points to the connection we have in that locker room” when asked about the Tigers ability to rally for the lead and try to come back after going down again late.
The Tigers have lost five straight and look to right the trip this weekend in Lexington taking on No. 19 Kentucky for a three game set.