MIAMI – Mizzou Baseball scored two runs in the top of the ninth inning on a pair of wild pitches to escape host Florida International with a 3-1, opening day win. Sophomore LHP and Preseason All-American T.J. Sikkema (DeWitt, Iowa) was outstanding in relief, throwing 5.0 innings while striking out a seven, his most in a relief outing since March 4 of last season vs. UIC. He allowed just one earned run on four hits in the win.

Junior OF Zach Hanna (Shawnee Mission, Kan.) hit his first Division I homer in the top of the sixth inning Friday, giving Mizzou a 1-0 lead while turning in a two-hit night. Florida International tied the game in the bottom of the sixth but Mizzou took advantage of a leadoff error in the ninth and the two wild pitches to escape with the season-opening win.

Reliever Nile Ball got the final out of the game after a 4-6-3 double play, induced by Sikkema, in the ninth to earn his first Division I save.

TURNING POINT
Junior 3B Brian Sharp (Liberty, Mo.) reached base on a leadoff error in the top of the ninth inning and that spelled doom for the home Panthers. After a Chris Cornelius (St. Louis, Mo.) walk, a successful sacrifice moved the runners up and both scored on wild pitches to give Mizzou a 3-1 lead heading to the bottom of the ninth inning. The first two Panther batters reached base against Sikkema, but a big 4-6-3 double play, Mizzou’s second of the night, squelched the threat before Nile Ball retired the final batter of the game.

— Mizzou Athletics —