COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou freshman 2B Mark Vierling delivered a crucial two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the eighth inning to propel Mizzou Baseball a dramatic 3-1 victory over No. 10 Vanderbilt on Friday night at Taylor Stadium. Mizzou’s clutch pitching and timely defense again helped the Tigers to take down the Commodores. Mizzou will aim to complete the series sweep tomorrowafternoon at 2pm.
In his second ever SEC start, Mizzou southpaw Tyler LaPlante hurled a gem. The junior tossed 6.0 innings of three-hit ball while allowing only one run. LaPlante struck out five while issuing only two free passes. He was relieved by Bryce Montes de Oca who escaped jams in both the seventh and eighth innings with his heater that was touching the upper 90s. After Vierling gave Mizzou the lead, junior closer Nile Ball held off the Commodores in the ninth and sealed the 3-1 win while earning his fifth save of the season.
TURNING POINT
With the score knotted at 1-1 in the top of the eighth, Montes de Oca faced a jam with Commodores on first and third. The redshirt junior flamethrower executed back-to-back strikeouts to escape the Vanderbilt threat and that kept the game tied 1-1.
In the bottom half of the frame, Mizzou SS Chris Cornelius led off of the inning with a walk and was moved to second on a Paul Gomez sacrifice bunt. After Trey Harris intentionally walked, Tony Ortiz also drew a free pass. A batter later, pinch-hitter Mark Vierling, who was hitless in his last 21 at bats, delivered a two-run single through the left side in the biggest at-bat of the ballgame. The clutch knock gave Mizzou a 3-1 advantage.
QUOTING MIZZOU
Head Coach Steve Bieser
“He picked the right time to get a hit. It was just a good matchup for Mark. Mark has been scuffling a bit in April, but he is a fastball hitter and they were bringing their guy in who has a plus fastball, so we knew we were going to get a fastball. Just sent up there and told him to be ready to hit. He had a great at-bat, really pleased with him and proud of him. He was battling because it has been very frustrating this month for him.”
TOP TIGERS
- Junior LHP Tyler LaPlante made a solid outing in his second career conference start. He faced 24 batters through 6.0 complete innings, allowing only one run off three hits. LaPlante finished with five strikeouts for the third time this season.
- Redshirt junior RHP Bryce Montes De Oca came on in relief in the seventh inning, striking out four of the nine batters he faced. He allowed only two hits in his 2.0-inning appearance.
- Freshman 2B Mark Vierling snapped a 0-21 slump at the plate with a go-ahead two run single in the eighth inning.
- Junior LHP Nile Ball entered with a two run in the ninth inning and earned his fifth save of the season.
NOTES
- Tonight’s attendance of 2,312 marks a season high.
- With the victory, Mizzou is now 3-16 against Vanderbilt all-time.
- Mizzou moves to 8-6 against ranked opponents this season with the victory over No. 10 Vanderbilt.
- The Tigers remain perfect, 11-0, when allowing only one run.
- Despite being out-hit 6-4 by Vanderbilt, Mizzou secures the victory. For the second night in a row, the Tigers have won while only totaling four hits. The Tigers move to 6-11 when being out-hit by their opponent.
- With tonight’s win, the Tigers improve their record to 17-3 at home, and 20-5 at night.
- Mizzou improves to 6-4 in Friday appearances.
- The one error tonight was the team’s first since April 14th at Florida.
- With late game heroics, Mizzou improves to 3-1 when tied after the 7th inning.
UP NEXT
Mizzou and Vanderbilt play game three of the series Saturday at 2 p.m.
— Mizzou Athletics —