KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Mizzou Baseball (15-12, 0-6 SEC) defeated Saint Louis 5-3, on a windy Tuesday evening at Kauffman Stadium. The Tigers scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth, capitalizing on a RBI from freshman Brian Sharp [Liberty, Mo.] and an RBI double from Shane Benes (Town & Country, Mo.). The defense played a crucial role in Mizzou’s victory, turning a season-high five double plays, the most in a game since April, 26, 2014 against Florida.

Mizzou’s double play in the seventh inning halted a Billiken’s rally as freshman Ian Nelson [Lake St. Louis, Mo.] stopped a one-hop ground ball up the middle to start the double play. Benes snagged a liner at the hot corner and caught a runner off first base to cap the game in the ninth for Mizzou’s fifth and final double play.

Ryan Lee [Grandview, Mo.] got the start for the Tigers, allowing four hits to earn the Billikens two runs in the top of the first. Zach Lavy [Auxvasse, Mo.] returned the favor with a RBI to score Ryan Howard [St. Charles, Mo.] at the bottom of the first.

In the fifth, the Mizzou bats woke up. Benes hit his second double of the game to drive in Lavy. Sharp continued the streak, scoring on a wild pitch.

SLU returned the favor in the sixth inning with a RBI to score its third run. To little avail, Mizzou scored again in the bottom of the eighth with Lavy singling to left side to score in run number five – it was Lavy’s team-leading sixth multi-RBI game this season.

Liam Carter (Highland Park, Ill.) earned his first career save, tossing a pair of shutout innings with just one hit and a walk.

Mizzou will be back in action on the road to face Arkansas in a three game series over the weekend, the first being Friday evening at 6:35 p.m.

— Mizzou Athletics —