05/27/2006

Associated Press

J.C. Field homered and drove in five runs to back a shutout by Max Scherzer as Missouri beat Oklahoma 11-0 on Friday in a Big 12 Conference baseball tournament game called after seven innings because of the run rule.

In the tournament's other game Friday, Kansas knocked Oklahoma State out of tournament-title contention, beating the Cowboys 11-6 as every starter for the Jayhawks recorded at least one hit.

Kansas (40-23) and Missouri (31-24) will play Saturday for a berth in Sunday's tournament championship game. Oklahoma (39-19) and Oklahoma State (39-17) will complete round-robin play Saturday but neither the Sooners nor the Cowboys can qualify for the championship game.

Field had a two-run single in Missouri's five-run first inning and ended the game with a three-run home run with two outs in the seventh inning. Scherzer, a top pro prospect, moved to 7-1, allowing four hits and striking out five without walking a batter.

Derek Chambers also homered and Ryan Lollis added a two-run single for Missouri, the tournament's No. 7 seed and a team on the bubble for a berth in the NCAA tournament, should the Tigers not win the Big 12 tournament.

"I know it doesn't mean anything for the (NCAA tournament selection) committee, but, in terms of lobbying, I would like to see another team that has beat (defending national champion) Texas three times (and) Oklahoma and Oklahoma State on the road, essentially," Missouri coach Tim Jamieson said. "I know it does not come down to just how you are at the end of the tournament, but it certainly should make a statement."

Steven Guerra (10-3) gave up six runs in five innings for third-seeded Oklahoma.

Four of Missouri's five runs off Guerra in the first inning were unearned as a result of an error by shortstop Freddy Rodriguez. The Tigers also got three unearned runs in the seventh following an error by second baseman Russell Raley with nobody out.

Oklahoma State rallied from a 5-0 hole to tie the game by scoring five runs in the top of the sixth inning. But the Jayhawks scored five runs of their own in the bottom of the inning off relievers Jeff Breedlove (2-1) and Jason Schroder.

Eric Morrison hit two home runs for Kansas — raising his season total to 13 — and had four RBIs.

Paul Smyth, who relieved Sean Land in the sixth, picked up the pitching win for Kansas and is 5-1.