COLUMBIA, S.C. – Mizzou junior lefty Tyler LaPlante turned in 8.0 shutout innings but South Carolina’s Carlos Cortes hit a walk-off solo homer on the first pitch in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Gamecocks claimed a 1-0 win Sunday at Founder’s Park. The walk-off win for the Gamecocks clinched the weekend series as Mizzou falls to 31-20 and 10-17 in SEC play.

LaPlante struck out a career-high eight and allowed just the one run on five hits with only one walk in a tough-luck loss as he falls to 4-3 on the year. Carolina’s Eddie Demaruis earned the win, improving to 5-0 after throwing the final 2.0 innings.

Mizzou had its chances in the game, stranding seven runners. The Tigers also lost a run at the plate in the first inning.

TURNING POINT

Mizzou had a chance to take an early 1-0 lead, getting a pair of men on in the first inning. Five-hole hitter senior 3B Alex Samples roped a single into right field, but a strong throw from Gamecock RF Cortes gunned a sprinting Brian Sharp at the plate for the third out in the inning. Both LaPlante and Carolina starter Cody Morris then engaged in a pitcher’s duel until, each pitcher throwing up zero after zero.

The stalemate was finally broken in the bottom of the ninth as Cortes roped a solo homer to right field on the first pitch of the frame.

TOP TIGERS

• Junior 1B Brian Sharp walked to lead off the game. He has reached base safely in 12 straight contests this season. He added an eighth-inning single as he hit safely in all three games over the weekend.
• Junior lefty Tyler LaPlante was tremendous in his ninth start of the season Sunday. He tossed 8.0 innings, allowing just five hits with a walk while matching his career-high with eight strikeouts. He threw more than 100 pitches for the second time in a Mizzou uniform. He threw a career-high 113 pitches on a 95-degree day.

NOTES

• Mizzou now trails the all-time series with South Carolina, 13-7.
• Mizzou falls to 3-5 on Sundays
• Mizzou falls to 18-18 in three-game series this season and 2-4 in SEC rubber games.

UP NEXT

Mizzou opens its finale homestand of the season Tuesday with a 6 p.m. start vs. Indiana State

— MWSU Athletics —