FORT MYERS, Fla. – Mizzou Baseball swept a four-game series with Hofstra thanks to a walk-off single by freshman Connor Brumfield (Columbia, Mo.) in the bottom of the 10th inning on Sunday at City of Palms Park. Mizzou scored one run in the ninth on a Trey Harris (Powder Springs, Ga.) sacrifice fly to tie the game and then won on Brumfield’s single in the 10th.
Freshman Brian Sharp (Liberty, Mo.) picked up his first career win and the Tigers got 6.0 stellar innings from freshman LHP Michael Plassmeyer (St. Louis, MO.), who reset career-highs in innings, strikeouts and allowed just two runs on four hits over 6.0 innings. SS Ryan Howard (St. Charles, Mo.) led the offense with three hits in the win and got the ninth-inning rally started with a leadoff single
Plassmeyer had an easy first inning, throwing just 12 pitches to post a 1-2-3 inning. In fact, just one baserunner reached off of Plassmeyer through the first four innings, and that was a two-out error in the second inning. Ryan Howard (St. Charles, Mo.) singled and stole second to lead off the fourth, but Mizzou could not bring him across. Brett Bond (St. Louis, Mo.) nearly singled him in, but a good play at second saved a run.
Plassmeyer then surrendered his first hit to lead off the fourth, but then induced a 6-3 double play and got a flyout to right to end the frame.
Both pitchers continued to deal until Mizzou finally got to Hofstra starter Bowie Matteson in the sixth. With two outs, Howard tallied his second hit of the day, this time driving a pitch into left. He promptly stole second for his second steal of the game and Jake Ring (Ingleside, Ill.) drove him in with a single the other way into left, giving Mizzou a 1-0 lead.
As quickly as Mizzou got the lead, Hofstra took it right back in the top of the seventh. Plassmeyer allowed a pair of hits to open the frame, ending his day in favor of Cole Bartlett (Williamsburg, Ind.) who loaded the bases by hitting a batter. A single by Matt Annunziata then tied the game at 1-1. Brian Sharp (Liberty, Mo.) then came on and got the final two outs, but Hofstra took the lead on a sacrifice fly, 2-1.
Mizzou went 1-2-3 in the seventh inning and Sharp threw up another zero in the eighth, pitching around a leadoff single and an intentional walk. Mizzou then had a chance to tie the game in the eighth after a leadoff double from Shane Benes (Town & Country, Mo.), but Mizzou couldn’t get him across after a two strikeouts and a bounce-out to second.
Sharp pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to give Mizzou a chance with the 2-3-4 hitters up in the ninth. Howard led off the frame and Ring followed with a walk after falling behind 0-2. Zach Lavy (Auxvasse, Mo.) bunted and reached on an error to load the bases. Then with one out, Trey Harris (Powder Springs, Ga.) then hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game.
Sharp then led off the 10th with a walk and Tim Jamieson pinch ran Johnny Balsamo (Kansas City, Mo.). He moved to second on a wild pitch and was bunted to third. Brumfield then came up and ripped a full-count pitch into right field for the game-winning hit.
Mizzou will return home for Opening Day on March 2 at Taylor Stadium. Admission is free of charge.
— Mizzou Athletics —