COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Baseball split a doubleheader with Georgia on Saturday afternoon (May 14) at Taylor Stadium. After Mizzou dropped game one, 7-4, Mizzou got a complete game shutout from senior RHP Reggie McClain (Duluth, Ga.) and a grand slam from senior 1B Zach Lavy (Auxvasse, Mo.) in a 5-0 win to even the series on senior day. The rubber game of the three-game series will be Sunday at 1 p.m.
McClain pitched a gem in game two, allowing just three hits and a walk while matching a career-high with 12 strikeouts. It was his first complete game shutout against an SEC team and it came against the school with which he began his collegiate career. It was the second complete game shutout of his career and it was the first at Mizzou since Tanner Houck (Collinsville, Ill.) did so against Auburn on April 8, 2016. McClain clung to a 1-0 lead after a sixth inning homer from Jake Ring (Ingleside, Ill.), but Lavy gave him the insurance he needed in the eighth inning, launching a fastball over the fence for Mizzou’s first grand slam since March 30, 2010, by Eric Garcia against Purdue.
Mizzou dropped game one, 7-4, despite leading 4-3 after five innings. Georgia scored four runs over the seventh, eighth and ninth innings as they came back for the win. Mizzou sophomore Cole Bartlett (Williamsburg, Ind.) took the loss, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits as he falls to 3-5 on the year. UGA reliever Kevin Smith earned the win as he went to 5-1 on the year.
The first inning was eventful in game one of the doubleheader. Mizzou Houck was plagued by an error and a video review that took away an out on diving play in center by Ring. In all, Georgia plated three runs in the opening half inning (two unearned) and Houck threw 40 pitches. Mizzou nearly answered in the bottom of the frame as UGA starter Robert Tyler walked the first two men. Junior SS Ryan Howard (St. Charles, Mo.) then roped a ball into left field that looked to be extra bases and runs, but Keegan McGovern made a sensational catch on the run to rob Howard of a hit and RBIs. Tyler then got out of the inning to keep UGA on top, 3-0.
Mizzou got on the board in the bottom of the second inning on a two-run homer by DH Shane Benes (Town & Country, Mo.), his sixth of the season, second-most on the team. It came following a one-out walk by Brian Sharp (Liberty, Mo.).
Mizzou tied the game in the bottom of the fourth inning as back-to-back singles by Trey Harris (Powder Springs, Ga.) and Brett Bond (St. Louis, Mo.) put runners on the corners with no outs. After a Sharp strikeout, Benes lifted a ball to left center for a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 3-3.
Lavy continued his All-SEC caliber season with a go-ahead, two-out RBI single through the right side in the fifth inning. It came after Ring bunted for a hit and stole his SEC-leading 24th stolen base. But the lead didn’t last as UGA catcher Michael Curry launched a solo homer in the top of the seventh inning to tie the game at 4-4.
Georgia then plated two in the top of the eighth inning. The first was on a fielder’s choice as a grounder was hit to Lavy. He charged the ball, fired home, but Georgia’s Spencer Kieboom slid around the tag to give UGA a 5-4 lead. They tacked on another run on an error by Howard as he attempted to make a turn on a double play. That gave Georgia a 6-4 lead.
Howard doubled to right center to lead off the bottom of the eighth inning, but the next three batters were retired to leave Howard stranded in scoring position. Mizzou then went quietly in the ninth as UGA added a run in the top half of the inning to erase any chance of a comeback for Mizzou.
In game two, McClain was outstanding through the first three innings with five strikeouts and four groundouts through the first three frames. Both starting pitchers were outstanding, allowing just two hits and a walk through five innings. After McClain turned in a shutout sixth, Mizzou finally got to UGA starter Connor Jones in the bottom of the inning as Ring launched his second home of the year, over the wall in right field, to put Mizzou in top, 1-0.
McClain was in complete control throughout the game and Lavy’s grand slam in the bottom of the eighth inning gave Mizzou the cushion it needed heading into the ninth. McClain responded by striking out the side to match his career-high with 12 strikeouts. He limited UGA to just three hits and a walk in the win, his fifth of the season.
— Mizzou Athletics —