CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Mizzou Baseball earned its first road win over a ranked opponent since May 7, 2017, as it defeated No. 24 Miami, 9-0, Wednesday night at Alex Rodriguez Park. Junior RHP Brian Sharp (Liberty, Mo.) dazzled in his first career start, pitching a career-high 5.0 innings while striking out a career-high eight. He scattered just four hits over the shutout appearance, earning his first win since March 15, 2017.
Mizzou scored five runs in the fourth inning, capitalizing on three hits, a walk and a big error by Miami starting pitcher Mike Mediavilla, allowing two runs to score. Mediavilla took the loss, falling to 0-1 on the year. Mizzou improves to 3-1 on the year while Miami goes to 2-2.
TURNING POINT
In the bottom of the third inning, Miami seemed to catch a break as Mizzou CF Kameron Misner (Poplar Bluff, Mo.) dove for a blooper in right center and let it get behind him for a triple with one out. Sharp pitched around the jam and Mizzou then exploded for five runs on three hits in the top of the fourth inning, taking advantage of a huge throwing error by Miami starting pitcher Mike Mediavilla on a fielder’s choice at home plate.
Freshman INF Mark Vierling (St. Louis, Mo.) hit a bases-loaded shot back up the middle, caroming off Mediavilla’s foot. He regrouped and fired home, but high, allowing two Mizzou runs to score on the error. Brett Bond (St. Louis, Mo.) and Chris Cornelius (St. Louis, Mo.) added RBI singles and senior 3B Alex Samples (Bridgeport, Texas) got an RBI on a sacrifice squeeze.
Sharp then threw up two more zeros to wrap up his career-best outing. T.J. Sikkema (DeWitt, Iowa) shut it down from there, throwing 3.0 innings, scattering just one hit and striking out five. Mizzou tacked on four more in the ninth inning and RHP Cameron Dulle (St. Louis, Mo.) shut the door from there.
TOP TIGERS
– Junior RHP Brian Sharp was the story Wednesday night as he turned in the best outing of his career in his first career start. He reset career-highs in innings pitched (5.0) and strikeouts (eight) while allowing just four hits over 5.0 shutout frames.
– Sophomore SS Chris Cornelius tallied his second multi-hit game of the season Wednesday and drove in a run during Mizzou’s five-run fourth. He posted a three-hit night Wednesday.
– Sophomore CF Kameron Misner continued his hot start to the season, pounding two hits and walking twice more. He has now walked 11 times in four games. He doubled in a run in the ninth inning and scored two runs as well. He reached in four plate appearances Wednesday. He has reached base 17-of-22 plate appearances (.773 OBP) this season.
– Senior OF Trey Harris extended his hitting streak to four games, going 2-for-4 with a double, two runs and two stolen bases.
NOTES
– Mizzou’s all-time series with Miami is now tied at 1-1. The only other meeting was a 6-5 Miami win during the 2008 NCAA Coral Gables Regional.
– Mizzou has won three straight midweek games dating back to last season.
– Mizzou is now 21-11 away from home under second-year head coach Steve Bieser.
– The win was Mizzou’s first over a ranked opponent since May 7, 2017, at Vanderbilt last season.
– The shutout was Mizzou’s first road shutout since May 19, 2017, at Tennessee.
– Senior OF Trey Harris has hit safely in all four games this season.
– In his first career start, junior RHP Brian Sharp reset career-highs in strikeouts (eight), innings (4.0) and allowed just four hits.
UP NEXT
Mizzou will stay in the Sunshine State for a four-game weekend series with Northeastern, beginning Friday at 5:30 p.m.
— Mizzou Athletics —