Columbia, Mo. ? Kansas University’s baseball team could only muster two hits — both fourth-inning singles — in an 8-0 series-opening loss to Missouri on Friday at Taylor Stadium.
The Tigers (33-14 overall, 13-9 Big 12 Conference) scored four runs in the fifth and three more in the eighth to pull away, while KU stayed dormant offensively, drawing seven walks along with the pair of hits but doing nothing with them.
Max Scherzer struck out 10 in seven innings of work to pick up the win. Sean Land (5-5) suffered the loss, allowing five runs — just two of them earned — in 52/3 innings of work.
A.J. Van Slyke and Gus Milner had the only hits, meaning first baseman Jared Schweitzer’s school-record 24-game hit streak ended Friday.
Kansas (33-24, 8-13) remained in eighth place in the Big 12 standings, with ninth-place Texas A&M losing to Baylor on Friday. The top eight teams qualify for the Big 12 Tournament later this month.
The loss, though, assures Missouri will win the Border Showdown series this year, now with an insurmountable 21-141/2 lead.
Kansas and Missouri will tangle again at 2 p.m. today, with Mike Zagurski (6-4) taking the hill for the Jayhawks against the Tigers’ Nathan Culp (7-1).
| Kansas | 000 | 000 | 000 | — | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Missouri | 000 | 041 | 030 | — | 8 | 11 | 1 |
W- Scherzer (8-2). L- Land (5-5). KU highlights: A.J. Van Slyke 1-for-4, Gus Milner 1-for-3.
6Sports video: Missouri dominates KU
Game notes: KU vs. MU