COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Baseball [12-3] topped Alabama A&M [2-12], 5-3, thanks to a strong performance from RHP Ryan Lee [Grandview, Mo.], who earned his second win of the season. The Tigers took advantage of four two-out RBIs and got a pair of two-out RBI singles from freshman Connor Brumfield (Columbia, Mo.) to take an early 4-0 lead before holding on late.  At 12-3, Mizzou is off to its best start since 2008.

Lee allowed three earned runs in a career-high 6.2 innings pitched.  He also struck out a career-high four batters while allowing only one walk. The only Alabama A&M hitters to reach base in the first five innings reached on a walk, a bunt, and a hit batter.

Brumfield drove in two runners on a 2-4 performance from the plate. 1B Zach Lavy [Auxvasse, Mo.] also managed to drive in two, going 1-3 with a walk, and had a big two-out RBI single to plate a pair in the first inning.

Lee opened the game with an easy first inning, retiring the side on only nine pitches.  The Tigers then got on the board with a two-RBI single from Lavy with two outs.

LF Johnny Balsamo [Kansas City, Mo.] got on base with a two-out walk in the second inning in his first D1 start.  After stealing second, he was driven in on a single from Brumfield.

Following a hitless third inning for both teams, Lee surrendered his first hit of the game in the fourth on a well-placed bunt by Alabama A&M shortstop J.T. O’Reel.  O’Reel was subsequently caught stealing second base. Brumfield then slapped a single up the middle to drive in Trey Harris (Powder Springs, Ga.) for his second RBI of the game in the bottom half of the inning.

Lee continued to dominate with a hitless fifth inning. After the Tigers failed to get on base against relief pitcher Allen Belue, Alabama A&M began to get to Lee in the sixth inning. With two outs, the Bulldogs tallied two singles, a double, and then another single to drive in two runs. To open the bottom of the sixth, Lavy and Harris were both hit by pitches from Bulldogs reliever Caleb Roberts, and then each moved up a base on a wild pitch. DH Brian Sharp [Liberty, Mo.] drove in Lavy on a groundout to second to extend the lead to 5-2.

After striking out the opening two batters of the seventh, Lee allowed two singles. RHP Cole Bartlett [Williamsburg, Ind.] entered the game in relief. O’Reel’s third single of the day drove in a run before Bartlett was able to get Ramsey to ground out to first.

Despite allowing no hits in the eighth, Alabama A&M managed to load the bases because of fielding errors. Sharp came in to relieve Bartlett with two outs and managed to finish the inning without allowing any runs to cross the plate. Bulldogs pitcher Josh Burchell cruised through the bottom of the eighth with a 1-2-3 inning.

Sharp closed the game out without allowing a baserunner to earn his third save of the season for the Tigers.

Mizzou will continue its home stand this weekend when they host Youngstown State for a three-game series.  The first game will begin on Friday, March 11 at 6 p.m.

— Mizzou Athletics —