COLUMBIA, Mo. – Reigning SEC Player of the Week Brian Sharp (Liberty, Mo.) hit a two-out, three-run homer in the bottom of the fifth inning to back a sensational start by senior RHP Andy Toelken (Green Cove Springs, Fla.) as Mizzou Baseball completed a sweep of UMBC with a 5-0 win Sunday at Taylor Stadium. Mizzou has now won five straight games and moves to 10-3 on the year. UMBC falls to 1-6 on the season.

Toelken was sensational in his third start of the season, going 6.1 shutout innings while scattering just six hits with five strikeouts and just one walk. He pitched into the seventh inning, earning his first win of the season. Freshman righty Ian Bedell (Davenport, Iowa) threw the final 2.2 innings, not allowing a hit or a run while striking out four in his first career save.

TURNING POINT
Mizzou entered the bottom of the fifth leading 1-0. After UMBC got the first two outs, Mizzou appeared to be in danger of stranding two runners on base in a tight ball game, but junior 3B Brian Sharp (Liberty, Mo.) had other plans. After a nine-pitch at-bat, Sharp lifted an outside pitch the opposite way, just clearing the fence in left field, landing in Mizzou’s bullpen, for a three-run homer. That put the game away as Ian Bedell (Davenport, Iowa) threw the final 2.2 innings, shutting down the Retriever order.

TOP TIGERS
– Senior RHP Andy Toelken pitched a season-long 6.1 innings, scattering just six hits without a run. He struck out five and walked just one. It was his longest outing since May 2, 2017, when he went 7.0 innings midweek vs. Murray State.

– Junior 3B Brian Sharp continued his torrid pace to the 2018 season, hitting a three-run homer in the bottom of the fifth inning. It was his third homer of the season and he now leads the team with 18 RBI this season.

– Senior OF Trey Harris tallied his team-leading sixth multi-hit game and extended his hitting streak to five games.

– Freshman Mark Vierling tallied three hits in the win and now leads Mizzou with three three-hit games this season.

– Freshman RHP Ian Bedell tallied his first career save after throwing the final 2.2 innings without allowing a run or a hit. He struck out four.

NOTES
– Mizzou now leads the all-time series with UMBC, 3-0.

– Mizzou improves to 1-2 on Sundays this season.

– Mizzou has scored in the first inning in four consecutive games. Mizzou is 6-1 when scoring in the first inning this season.

– Mizzou turned in its third shutout of the season Sunday.

– Mizzou has won five in a row, completing a perfect 5-0 week for the first time since March 7-12, 2017.

– Senior OF Trey Harris extended his hitting streak to five games with an RBI single through the right side in the first inning. Harris also turned in his team-leading sixth multi-hit game of the year Sunday.

– Junior 3B Brian Sharp hit a three-run homer in the fifth inning, his third of the year. He is now tied for the team lead with three multi-RBI games this season. He is now just one homer shy of matching his total from a season ago.

– Freshman DH Chad McDaniel hit his first career double, driving in a run in the eighth inning.

UP NEXT
Mizzou and Maryland-Baltimore County will play the series finale Sunday at 12 p.m.

— Mizzou Athletics —