COLUMBIA, Mo. – No. 24 Mizzou Baseball extended its win streak to nine games with a 9-4 victory over No. 20 Wichita State Tuesday evening at Taylor Stadium. Mizzou junior LHP Tyler LaPlante (Blue Springs, Mo.) led Mizzou to its second win over a ranked opponent this season, working 8.0 innings of one-run ball while allowing only three hits and striking out five.
Offensively, Mizzou worked quality at bats all evening and scored in five separate innings. The Tigers racked up nine runs on nine hits and also drew seven walks and reached on four HBPs. Mizzou’s patient approach at the plate paid off as the Shockers had to deploy six pitchers and averaged nearly 23 pitches per inning.
Turning Point
Mizzou’s offense settled in at the plate immediately as it pushed across a pair of runs in the game’s first frame. Junior leadoff man Connor Brumfield (Columbia, Mo.) ripped a leadoff single and Mizzou followed with a handful of quality at bats. Mizzou drew four consecutive walks with one out in the first, two of which forced in runs. Overall, Mizzou forced Wichita State starter Preston Snavely to throw 39 pitches and held a 2-0 lead after one. The advantage proved to be an important cushion for Mizzou starter Tyler LaPlante.
LaPlante was dominant on the mound for Mizzou all evening as he kept the Shockers off balance with a mixture of well-located fastballs while mixing in three off-speed pitches. LaPlante controlled the game during the middle innings, striking out four and allowing only one base-hit during a stretch of 14 batters. Meanwhile, the Mizzou offense continued to battle, allowing LaPante to depart in the eighth inning with a 7-1 advantage.
Top Tigers
– LaPante’s second career start in a Mizzou uniform was a gem, an 8.0-inning outing that included five Ks and only six baserunners. LaPante has now allowed only two runs over 15.0 innings of work while issuing only four free passes and striking out 10.
– Sophomore SS Chris Cornelius (St. Louis, Mo.) recorded a pair of doubles and knocked in a run in four trips to the plate. Cornelius now has combined for five hits in Mizzou’s pair of wins over ranked teams this season.
– Sophomore 1B Kameron Misner (Poplar Bluff, Mo.) had a pair of both walks and hits, one being a double. Misner’s free passes give him a total of 23 this season, the second-most in Division I college baseball.
– Junior 3B Brian Sharp (Liberty, Mo.) recorded a pair of base hits and knocked in two runs while also drawing a walk. The junior has now knocked in runs in eight straight ballgames.
Notes
– With a victory over No. 20 Wichita State, Mizzou closes out a home stand with nine straight victories. The Tigers are now 2-0 against ranked opponents this season, previously defeating then No. 24 ranked Miami 9-0 on Feb. 21. The team has outscored ranked opponents 18-4.
– Tonight’s win gives the Tigers a 6-5 lead in the all-time series against Wichita State. Mizzou won the previous matchup April 22, 2014, with a 10th inning walk-off.
– The Tigers have now scored in the first inning in eight straight games. The team has put runs on the board in the first inning in 11 of 17 games this season. Since head coach Steve Bieser took over the program, the Tigers average 1.09 runs in the first inning in his first 76 games. Mizzou has outscored opponents 24-5 in the first inning this season.
– Senior Trey Harris (Powder Springs, Ga.) scored his 25 run this season, leading the SEC.
– Mizzou’s seven drawn walks are the most allowed by the Wichita State squad this season.
— Mizzou Athletics —