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LAWRENCE | Aaron Crow always had a soft spot in his heart for Kansas. He grew up just half an hour away in Topeka and strongly considered making KU his college home. But Crow chose Missouri.
Three years later, Crow is a case study in just how much feelings can change when you spend a little bit of time on the other side of the border. Ever since the teams’ benches cleared and tempers heightened in the 2006 Big 12 tournament, Crow, MU’s ace pitcher, hasn’t been able to look at the Jayhawks the same way.
“They’re the No. 1 enemy,” Crow said.
That fact made MU’s 5-3 victory over KU on Friday night all the more satisfying. Crow pitched seven innings, giving up only six hits and two unearned runs. He struck out 11 Jayhawks, none more important than his strikeout of KU left fielder John Allman with runners on first and second ending the seventh. Crow showed some rare emotion as he walked off the field at Hoglund Ballpark with his parents, Kevin and Julie, watching from the stands above.
“That was probably one of the biggest outs I got during the game,” Crow said.
Entering Friday’s start, Crow, considered the No. 3 overall prospect by Baseball America, had given up 22 earned runs in 24 innings spanning his last four starts. A positive performance couldn’t have come at a better time for the Tigers, who need Crow to more closely resemble the pitcher who threw 43 consecutive scoreless innings earlier this season.
“I think he’s (been) disappointed,” MU coach Tim Jamieson said. “I think he gets frustrated at times during the games, but I don’t think he’s frustrated with his (overall) performance. He’s still winning, and we’re still winning on Friday night. I think he recognizes he can do better.”
The Tigers have won 11 of Crow’s 12 starts this season, as he has put together a startling stat line: 11-0 with a 2.82 ERA and 103 strikeouts.
MU’s victory opened a crucial three-game series for the Tigers, 33-16 overall and 12-10 in the Big 12, and Jayhawks, 29-23 and 8-14. Missouri stands alone in fourth place in the league race, while KU is now tied with Kansas State in seventh place. The top eight teams make the Big 12 tournament in Oklahoma City.
“We need to get some momentum,” said Crow, a junior right-hander, “since we struggled in the middle of the season.”
The Jayhawks threatened to ruin Crow’s superb outing in the bottom of the ninth, loading the bases with two outs. Missouri brought in right-hander Kyle Gibson to face KU shortstop Erik Morrison. Gibson struck Morrison out on a 3-2 count.
The eventual winning run came off the bat of Missouri designated hitter Jonah Schmidt, who rocketed a solo home run over the left-field wall and gave the Tigers a 4-2 lead in the top of the sixth inning. Schmidt’s home run and an ensuing single by shortstop Andrew Thigpen chased KU left-hander Nick Czyz, who gave up three earned runs in five innings.
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