COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Women’s Basketball has signed Akira Levy to its 2018 recruiting class, head coach Robin Pingeton announced Wednesday. Levy is a 5-foot-8 guard from Baxter, Tennessee, who captured a pair of state championships at Upperman High School.

Levy racked up 2,761 points, 921 assists, 591 rebounds and 504 steals during her illustrious high school career. She was twice named Tennessee Class AA Miss Basketball and earned 2018 All-USA Tennessee First Team honors after a stellar senior campaign. In her final season at Upperman, Levy averaged 25.3 points, 9.4 assists and 4.8 steals per game.

Levy is a proven winner, leading her high school to 45 consecutive wins, including a spotless 37-0 record in 2017-18. She poured in a game-high 31 points in the state title game and tossed in the game winner in the final seconds to seal her second consecutive state championship. Levy was named the 2018 Class AA state tournament MVP after her clutch performance.

“I chose Mizzou because the team is wonderful, I really clicked with the girls,” Levy said. “The coaching staff is awesome. When I stepped on campus, it felt like home.”

Levy is the No. 66 recruit in the nation in ESPN’s class of 2018 rankings. She is a dynamic scorer and elite passer. She shot 58.9 percent from the field and 73.5 percent from the free throw line while boasting a 3.3 assist-to-turnover ratio during her career.

Levy is a two-time Tennessee Sports Writers Association honoree, two-time Class AA District 8 MVP and two-time Class AA Region 4 MVP. She chose Mizzou over Ohio State and Vanderbilt, among others.

Levy plans to major in education at Mizzou. She joins fellow Top-70 recruit Grace Berg in the Tigers’ class of 2018.

— Mizzou Athletics —

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Mizzou Baseball scored 11 runs from the eighth through 11^th innings to complete a 17-16 comeback win over Iowa Tuesday afternoon at Duane Banks Field. Mizzou trailed 8-0 after three, 13-6 after six and 14-13 after eight innings and completed the comeback by scoring two runs in the top of the 11^th inning. Sophomore SS Chris Cornelius drove in the go-ahead run with an RBI single in the 11^th inning as part of a career-best six RBI in the game. Junior OF Zach Hanna drove home the game-winning run with a single in the next at-bat.

Mizzou had six different hitters tally multiple-hit performances as the Tigers slugged a season-high 24 hits, its most since posting 26 against Texas on April 11, 2008. To put the crazy game into perspective, Mizzou junior Brian Sharp entered the game as a pitcher in the fourth inning and finished 4-for-4 with four runs, including the go-ahead run in the 11^th inning, and two RBI. Senior RHPAndy Toelken entered the game as a pitcher and had a hit as well. Mizzou left 17 men on base and scored 17 runs.

RS junior RHP Bryce Montes De Oca earned his fifth win of the year after throwing a shutout 10^th inning and Luke Anderson earned his first career save.

TURNING POINT

There were about 15 turning points in Tuesday’s game, but none bigger than the 11^th inning. Junior Brian Sharp led off the frame with a single and Paul Gomez followed that with a single up the middle. That set the stage for Cornelius, who roped a single through the left side and Sharp slid in just ahead of the tag for the 16^th run. Hanna singled one batter later to extended the lead to 17-15, which was huge because Iowa hit a solo homer in the bottom of the 11^th inning.

QUOTING MIZZOU

Head Coach Steve Bieser

“The guys laid it all on the line today. You talk about some resiliency and just battling all the way through and never gave in. There were lots of ups and downs, but they just kept trusting one another.”

TOP TIGERS

• Senior 1B Brett Bond tallied five hits, including an RBI double in the sixth inning. It was his first game with three or more hits game since March 23 against Mississippi State. It was his first four-hit game since May 2, 2017, vs. Murray State and he matched his career-high with five. His double was his first since April 14 at Florida. He reached base in five plate appearances Tuesday.
• Junior 1B/OF Tony Ortiz has a successful pinch hit in each of the last two games after posting an RBI double in the fifth inning. The RBIs for Ortiz were his first since tallying three against LaSalle on March 10.
• Junior RHP/DH/2B/1B Brian Sharp extended his hitting streak to six games with an RBI single in the fifth inning.  He entered the game as a pitcher in the fourth inning and wound up with four hits, four runs and two RBIs.
• Freshman C Chad McDaniel extended his hitting streak to seven games with an eighth-inning single.
• Junior OF Zach Hanna hit his fifth homer of the year, a game-tying two-run blast to cap the seven-run eighth inning. It was Mizzou’s first pinch-hit homer since Ortiz hit one against Northeastern on Feb. 23, 2018, vs. Northeastern. He had an RBI single in the 11^th inning that drove in the game-winning run.
• Junior OF Connor Brumfield hit a go-ahead ninth-inning double to highlight his fifth multi-hit game of the season.
• Sophomore SS Chris Cornelius drove in a career-high six runs, including a bases-loaded double in the eighth inning and the game-winning RBI with a single through the left side in the 11^thinning.

NOTES

• Mizzou now leads the all-time series with Iowa, 28-13. It was the first meeting between the two teams since 1997.
• Mizzou is still undefeated in midweek games this season and is 6-0 on Tuesdays.
• Mizzou is now 4-3 on the year when facing left-handed starting pitcher.
• Mizzou moves to 9-9 on the year in road games.
• Mizzou tallied 24 hits Tuesday, a season-high, surpassing the 21 it his in game two of the season at FIU. It’s the most hits for Mizzou since 2008/
• Mizzou played its 26^th errorless game of the season Tuesday.
• Mizzou has scored 10+ runs in three straight games for the first time since 2007.

UP NEXT

Mizzou hosts Georgia No. 20 Georgia Thursday-Saturday at Taylor Stadium.

— MWSU Athletics —

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Men’s Basketball has signed transfer guard Dru Smith to its 2018 recruiting class, head coach Cuonzo Martin announced Tuesday. Smith transfers from the University of Evansville, where he was one of the most efficient shooters in the nation as a sophomore and earned Missouri Valley Conference All-Freshman honors in 2017.

Smith started all 22 games he appeared in last season, reaching double figures 17 times and scoring at least 20 points in a game on four occasions. The Evansville, Indiana, native will sit out the 2018-19 campaign due to NCAA transfer rules and have two years of eligibility remaining.

“We are excited to welcome Dru into the Mizzou Basketball Family,” Martin said. “Dru is an experienced player who understands the kind of work ethic it takes to succeed at this level. He is a proven shooter and talented passer who can impact the game in so many ways. Dru will be an outstanding teammate and we’re thrilled to have him join the program.”

Smith averaged 13.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 2.0 steals as a sophomore at Evansville. The sharpshooter led the Missouri Valley Conference in three-point shooting, making 48.2 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc. Smith ranked third in the MVC in both field goal percentage and free throw percentage, shooting 57.8 percent from the floor and 86.2 percent from the free throw line.

Smith saw action in 28 games as a freshman, chipping in 5.3 points and 2.6 rebounds per contest. The 6-foot-3 guard played at Reitz High School, where he steered his squad to a 22-5 record while pouring in 20.8 points per game and grabbing 6.5 rebounds per outing as a senior.

“I really connected with Coach Martin and the staff and I already feel like a part of the family,” Smith said. “Mizzou Arena and all the facilities are incredible and I’m just ready to get there and go to work.”

As a junior in high school, Smith captained Reitz to a 29-2 record and a runner-up finish in the Indiana Class 4A State Tournament while posting 10.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.5 assists per contest. He is the sixth member in a talented group of Mizzou newcomers heading in to the 2018-19 season, alongside signees Mark Smith, K.J. Santos, Javon Pickett, Xavier Pinson and Torrence Watson.

— Mizzou Athletics —

LEXINGTON, Ky. – After Mizzou Baseball rallied from down 6-1 to take a 10-6 lead, Kentucky’s Cole Kottam hit a go-ahead eighth-inning grand slam as the Wildcats claimed the series finale, 11-10,Sunday afternoon at Cliff Hagan Field. The loss drops Mizzou to 29-15 and 9-12 in SEC play while Kentucky improves to 29-15 and 10-11 in league games.

Junior RHP Bryce Montes De Oca took the loss, allowing the Cottam slam after reliever Nile Ball loaded the bases after what was a gutty outing for Ball as Mizzou rallied to take the lead. Montes De Oca falls to 5-3 on the year. Mizzou got two men on in the ninth, but Zach Hanna struck out to strand the tying run in scoring position.

Mizzou got homers from Trey Harris and Brian Sharp, the latter of which was a go-ahead grand slam in the seventh inning.

TURNING POINT

After falling behind 6-1, Mizzou slowly chipped away at Kentucky’s lead and ultimately tied the game in the seventh inning on a bases-loaded infield single by SS Chris Cornelius. The lineup then turned over to the top and Sharp stepped in and launched a 2-1 pitch over the wall in left field for a grand slam homer, putting Mizzou on top 10-6.

That capped a stretch during which Mizzou scored nine straight runs with big hit after big hit. The hit that got Mizzou back in the game was a two-run blast by RF Trey Harris in the fifth inning. Mizzou then scored two more in the sixth on a Connor Brumfield homer and a Harris two-out RBI single. That set the stage for Mizzou’s five-run seventh inning.

But the lead did not hold. Ball, who was terrific in his first 4.0 innings of work, ran into a wall in the eighth and loaded the bases, hitting two batters in that stretch. That brought in Cottam and Mizzou went to the bullpen to get Montes De Oca. Cottam then turned on a 1-0 pitch and deposited it over the wall in left center for the game-winning slam.

QUOTING MIZZOU

Head Coach Steve Bieser

“Just a real tough loss. We battled. One thing we have to be proud of is that we competed. We spotted them way too many early in that game and it was going to be tough to come back. Then we kind of get everything to swing our way and then I though we did some things late in the game that was not great game-winning baseball.”

TOP TIGERS

• Junior 1B Brian Sharp extended his hitting streak to five games with a double to lead off the game. He scored a run in the first and then added the go-ahead grand slam in the seventh inning.  He posted three hits in the loss.
• Senior RF Trey Harris hit his team-leading ninth homer of the year, a two-run shot in the fifth inning. It was his second homer of the series.
• Senior C Brett Bond picked up an RBI single in the first inning and posted a pair of first-inning RBIs during the series.
• Freshman Chad McDaniel extended his hitting streak to six games with a fifth-inning single. He tallied six hits in the series and is hitting 21-for-54 (.389) over his last 19 games.
• Junior CF Connor Brumfield hit his second career homer, a solo shot in the sixth inning, Sunday.

UP NEXT

Mizzou will continue its season Tuesday, stepping out of SEC play for a road game at Big Ten foe Iowa. First pitch for that game is at 3:05 p.m.

— Mizzou Athletics —

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Mizzou Baseball earned a hard-fought 14-11 win in game two of its series at No. 13 Kentucky Saturday afternoon at Cliff Hagan Field. Mizzou ran out to a 9-2 lead before a six-run sixth inning from the Wildcats tightened things up. The Tigers then got five runs in the eighth inning, three on Trey Harris’ team-leading eighth homer, to put the game away. The slugfest came less than 24 hours removed from a Friday night pitcher’s duel in game one.

Mizzou evens the series with the Wildcats and improves to 29-14 and 9-11 in SEC play. Kentucky falls to 28-15 and 9-11 in SEC play, setting up a huge Sunday rubber game at noon (CT) tomorrow on SEC Network+. Junior LHP Michael Plassmeyer earned the win, improving to 5-2 on the year. He allowed six runs on nine hits while striking out seven. RS junior Bryce Montes De Oca earned his first career save.

Mizzou scored its most runs in an SEC game this year and most in a league game during the Steve Bieser era. It was the most runs scored by Mizzou in an SEC game since May 2, 2015, when the Tigers hung 18 on Ole Miss. The 14 runs match the most ever by a Mizzou team in a road SEC contest. Mizzou also scored 14 at Tennessee on March 23, 2013, its first season in the league.

TURNING POINT

Saturday’s game was wild as Mizzou opened a 9-2 lead before Kentucky took advantage of six hits, two walks and a big error to plate six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to cut the lead to 9-8. Kentucky could have had more in the inning, but Mizzou reliever Andy Toelken pitched out of the jam to preserve the lead.

Clinging to a one-run lead with momentum clearly swinging towards the nationally-ranked Wildcats, senior 3B Alex Samples led off the eighth inning with a double, kick-starting a five-run frame that put the game out of reach. Junior SS Paul Gomez delivered a big two-run single with one out and senior Trey Harris delivered the big blow, a three-run homer off the scoreboard in left center, his eighth of the year.

Bryce Montes De Oca locked things down from there, allowing just one hit and one walk over the final 1.1 innings to complete the win. Mizzou hit a season-high four homers in the win, its most since April 15, 2017, also against Kentucky.

QUOTING MIZZOU

Head Coach Steve Bieser

“Wild is a good way to explain it. I thought the resiliency of our offense to keep coming back and keep coming back, they made it really hard on Kentucky’s pitchers. They did a good job of sticking to their approach. That’s something we challenged them to do after last night and I think they took that to heart. We have to come back tomorrow and have the same approach. We have a big opportunitytomorrow to go out and win a series.”

TOP TIGERS

• Junior 1B Brian Sharp hit his fourth homer of the year in the third inning, his first since March 4 against Maryland-Baltimore County. He extended his hitting streak to four games with that homer, a solo shot to right. Sharp tallied his 11^th multi-hit game of the season and second in the series Saturday.
• Freshman CF Cade Bormet extended his hitting streak to seven games with an RBI single in the second inning.
• Senior 3B Alex Samples posted an RBI in the second inning.
• Freshman DH Chad McDaniel tallied his seventh multi-hit game of the season and now has six of those in his last 18 games. He is hitting 19-for-51 (.373) over his last 18 games. He had a career-high four hits Saturday.
• Senior 2B Matt Berler hit his first homer of the season, a three-run shot, in the in fourth inning. It was his first homer since May 23, 2017, in the SEC Tournament opener vs. Texas A&M.
• Junior OF Zach Hanna hit his fourth homer of the season.
• Junior SS Paul Gomez tallied the biggest hit of his career with a two-run single in the top of the eighth inning to extend Mizzou’s advantage to 11-8.
• Senior OF Trey Harris blasted his team-leading eighth homer of the season and drove in three runs while scoring two more.

NOTES

• With the win, Mizzou cuts Kentucky’s advantage in the all-time series to 8-7.
• Mizzou improves to 9-6 on Saturdays this season.
• Mizzou is now 17-13 in three-game series this season.
• Mizzou is now 9-8 against ranked teams this season with six of the wins coming on the road.
• Mizzou is now 7-8 in day games this season.
• Mizzou hit a season-high four homers Saturday. Mizzou had just three homers in its previous nine games combined and just five in 19 SEC games before Saturday. The four homers for Mizzou are its most since April 15, 2017, also against Kentucky.
• Mizzou is now 4-0 when hitting multiple homers this season.
• Mizzou scored more than 10 runs for the eighth time this season and first time since April 4 against SIU-Edwardsville. It was the second time in 20 SEC games that Mizzou hung 10 or more runs and the first time since May 17 at LSU.
• Mizzou’s 14 runs are its most in an SEC game since May 2, 2015, when it scored 18 against Ole Miss. It matches the most ever for Mizzou scored in an SEC road game. Mizzou had 14 against Tennessee in Knoxville on May 23, 2013.

UP NEXT

Mizzou and Kentucky will close their series Sunday at noon.

— MWSU Athletics —

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Mizzou Baseball dropped its series opener at No. 13 Kentucky, 2-1, Friday night (April 27) at Cliff Hagan Field. Kentucky got a go-ahead two-out homer from cleanup man Luke Heyer off Mizzou starter T.J. Sikkema in the fifth inning and that proved to be the difference. Mizzou falls to 28-14 on the year and 8-11 in SEC play while Kentucky improves to 28-14 and 9-10 in SEC play.

Sikkema took a tough-luck loss, falling to 3-4 on the year. He went 6.0+ innings, allowing just two runs on seven hits while striking out six against zero walks. Kentucky starter and reigning SEC Pitcher of the Year Sean Hjelle earned the win, improving to 6-3 on the year. He tossed 8.0 innings, scattering just six hits while striking out eight. He surrendered just one run on a first-inning sacrifice squeeze by senior C Brett Bond.

Freshman CF Cade Bormet missed a two-out game-tying homer in the top of the ninth inning by about a foot, caroming off the top of the wall, settling for a double to extend his hitting streak to six games. He was stranded on second base representing the tying run.

TURNING POINT

Mizzou and Sikkema took a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the fifth inning. After Sikkema retired the leadoff man, a one-out single by C Troy Squires set up the go-ahead inning for the Wildcats. Sikkema induced what would have been a tailor-made double play ball off the bat of Kole Cottam, but Squires was running on the pitch and that extended the inning as Mizzou got just the one out. That loomed large as Luke Heyer hit a go-ahead two-run homer to center field, just over the 390-foot wall.

That blow came as Hjelle appeared to settle in, facing the minimum over the fifth and sixth innings. Mizzou got a leadoff double from Alex Samples in the seventh, but could not push him across as that was Mizzou’s best chance to tie the game.

QUOTING MIZZOU

Head Coach Steve Bieser

“Really tough game right there. We had our opportunities and just didn’t take advantage of those opportunities. When you don’t do that, you’re going to get in trouble and that’s what happened tonight.”

TOP TIGERS

• Sophomore LHP T.J. Sikkema worked 6.0+ innings, facing one batter in the seventh inning, wallowing just two runs on seven hits with six strikeouts. He walked just one in a tough-luck loss.
• Junior 1B Brian Sharp reached base in three plate appearances, singling and scoring to leadoff the first, and walk later in the game. He tallied an infield hit in the eighth inning for his ninth multi-hit game of the season.
• Senior C Brett Bond had Mizzou’s lone RBI on a sacrifice bunt in the first inning.
• Junior RHP Nile Ball turned in a pair of shutout relief innings, striking out four.
• Senior 3B Alex Samples hit his third double in the last two games Friday.
• Freshman Cade Bormet extended his hitting streak to six games with a two-out double in the ninth inning.

NOTES

• Mizzou now trail the all-time series with Kentucky, 6-8.
• Mizzou falls to 6-5 on Fridays this season and 22-6 in night games.
• Mizzou is now 8-8 against ranked teams this season.
• Mizzou falls to 7-8 in road games this season
• Mizzou scored in the first inning for the 18^th time this season. Mizzou is 13-5 in such games this season. Mizzou has scored 35 runs in the first inning this season (42 runs).
• Senior 3B Alex Samples hit his eighth double of the season in the seventh inning. He now has three doubles in his last two games.
• Mizzou played its 25^th errorless game of the season Friday as it continues to defend alongside the nation’s best teams.
• Mizzou held its opponent to fewer than three runs for the 24^th time in 42 games. It marked the 21^st time in 42 games that the opponent has scored two or fewer runs.

UP NEXT

Mizzou and Kentucky will play Saturday at 1 p.m.

— Mizzou Athletics —

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou senior RF Trey Harris crushed a two-run shot in the bottom of the fifth to give Mizzou the lead for good in its 8-2 win over in-state foe Missouri State Tuesday night at Taylor Stadium. The Tigers were powered to its 28^th win of the season by eight doubles, their most since recording eight on March 14, 2007, against Saint Louis. C Chad McDaniel, CF Cade Bormet, LF Zach Hanna, 3B Alex Samples and 2B Mark Vierling all recorded doubles in the victory. With the win, Mizzou sweeps the season series against the Bears after also winning in Springfield earlier this season.

Following a rocky first inning in which Junior SP Brian Sharp gave up a pair of runs, the Liberty, Mo., native settled in and allowed just two hits over the next four innings, holding the Bears scoreless. Trailing 2-0 going into the bottom of the fourth, Mizzou got its bats going and recorded five runs over the game’s next three frames, building a three-run lead.

TURNING POINT

Trailing 2-0 in the fourth, Mizzou C Chad McDaniel and CF Cade Bormet delivered back-to-back doubles to pull the Tigers within a run. One inning later, RF Trey Harris stepped to the plate withBrian Sharp on first. The senior slugger drove a 2-2 pitch over the right-centerfield fence to give Mizzou a 3-2 advantage.

QUOTING MIZZOU

Head Coach Steve Bieser

“It’s important. There are some recruiting battles as well with Missouri State. They have an excellent facility there and they can recruit to that really well. They’ve had a lot of success. I believe it’s time for us to be the Flagship University and keep rolling.”

TOP TIGERS

• Harris knocked a two-run go-ahead home run in the bottom of the fifth, his seventh of the season, a team-high. The senior also leads the team with 38 RBI and nine multi-RBI performances.
• Sharp earned his fourth victory of the season with a 5.0 inning outing, striking out three and only allowing the two first-inning runs. Sharp also made his presence felt at the plate as he ripped a pair of singles. The junior now has eight multi-hit games this season.
• McDaniel smacked a pair of doubles, setting a single-game career-high. McDaniel now has five two-baggers this season as well as a total of five multi-hit games.
• Samples also recorded two doubles, a career-high. The senior knocked in a run and scored twice.
• Hanna tallied a pair of hits, one of which was a double. Hanna now has eight multi-hit games this season, good for fourth on the team.
• Redshirt Junior RHP Bryce Montes de Oca appeared out of the Mizzou bullpen and worked 2.0 scoreless innings, allowing zero hits and striking out a pair.

NOTES

• Tonight’s attendance was 2,331 which is a season high for a mid-week contest at Taylor Stadium.
• Mizzou held its opponent to two or fewer runs for the 20^th time in 41 games this season. Mizzou has allowed three or fewer runs in 23 of 41 games.
• Mizzou is now 28-2 against nonconference teams at home under second-year head coach Steve Bieser.
• Mizzou has won its last 17 home nonconference games dating back to last season.
• The Tigers are now 28-29 in the all-time series against the Bears.
• Mizzou moves to 5-0 in Tuesday games this season.
• Mizzou won both games against Missouri State this season.

• The Tigers move to 19-4 at home this season.
• Mizzou is now 8-5 in the month of April.
• Mizzou increases its record to 6-8 when opponents score first.
• The Tigers improve to 12-1 when scoring eight or more runs.
• Mizzou
• Mizzou’s 13 hits were its most since April 6 vs. Alabama.
• The Tigers had eight doubles on the night which marks a new season high and the most for a Mizzou team since 2007.
• Harris was hit by a pitch for the 11th time this season.
• Sharp has now allowed only four runs total over his three starts this season. The Junior has tossed a total of 14.0 innings in his starts while allowing 13 hits and striking out 14.
• Montes de Oca made his second consecutive scoreless relief appearance against the Bears. The flamethrower has worked 4.0 innings out of the pen while allowing zero runs on only two hits while striking out six.
• Mizzou swiped five bags in the game, its most since stealing ten on March 21 against Arkansas State.

UP NEXT

Mizzou will head on the road for a three game series against the Kentucky Wildcats starting on Friday at 5:30 P.M.

— Mizzou Athletics —

COLUMBIA, Mo. – In front of a program-record crowd of 3,146 fans, Mizzou Baseball dropped the series finale against No. 10 Vanderbilt, 6-2, Saturday afternoon at Taylor Stadium. Mizzou junior starterMichael Plassmeyer, a lefty who has dominated during SEC play, got off to another good start on Saturday. However, Vanderbilt’s bats eventually found their groove and scored in four consecutive innings, including a three-spot in the sixth, to pull away from the Tigers.

After a pair of games in which Mizzou took down Vanderbilt with strong pitching and defense, the roles reversed on Saturday. Commodore starter Mason Hickman was dialed in all afternoon, lasting 7.0 innings and allowing only two unearned runs. Behind him, the Commodore defense made a handful of web gems that quieted the Mizzou offense. Trailing 6-0 in the bottom of the seventh, Mizzou pushed across its first runs on a two-run double by senior 2B Matt Berler.

Despite the loss that spoiled the potential series sweep, Mizzou won its first series ever against the Commodores and now sits at 8-10 in SEC play this season.

TURNING POINT

In his first start at Taylor Stadium since a five-hit complete game shutout, southpaw Michael Plassmeyer got off to a strong start on Saturday afternoon. Plassmeyer retired nine straight to start the ballgame and had three punch outs through three frame. However, Vanderbilt batters steadily found holes with base knocks as the Commodores tallied single runs in the fourth and fifth before breaking the game open with a two-run triple by 2B Ethan Paul. A sac fly a batter later gave Vanderbilt a 5-0 lead.

QUOTING MIZZOU

Head Coach Steve Bieser

“I’d say the biggest takeaway for us is that we came into a weekend series knowing that we needed to win the series, and we were able to do that. We played really clean baseball in the first two games and had some timely hitting. Today, it’s tough to beat a team like Vanderbilt three times. It’s a challenge. I knew that they were going to come out hungyry and I think they were just a little bit hungrier than we were.”

TOP TIGERS

• Senior 2B Matt Berler roped a pair of doubles, one which scored a pair in the bottom of the seventh to pull the Tigers within four. The two-baggers were Berler’s first since March 3 against UMBC and were Mizzou’s first extra-base hits of the weekend.
• Junior reliever Giovanni Lopez entered in the top of the eighth with the Commodores threatening. With a 6-2 lead, Vanderbilt had runners on second and third with one out when Lopez took the bump. The junior picked up a key strikeout and induced a 5-3 groundout to end the inning.

NOTES

• With a crowd of 3,146, Mizzou set a new program regular season attendance record
• After the loss, Mizzou is now 3-17 all-time against Vanderbilt
• 8-6 vs. ranked opponents
• The Tigers fall to 8-6 on Saturdays this season
• Mizzou’s loss at Taylor Stadium was just its fourth of the season. The Tigers are now 18-4 at home
• While they were unable to execute the series sweep, Mizzou stands at 16-11 in three game series this season
• Mizzou is now 7-5 this April. The Tigers were 6-13 last April
• Mizzou falls to 2-8 in games when opponents score first
• The Tigers are now 6-8 in day games this season

UP NEXT

Mizzou will close its five-game homestand Tuesday against in-state foe Missouri State.

— Mizzou Athletics —

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 14^th at Florida.
• With late game heroics, Mizzou improves to 3-1 when tied after the 7^th inning.

UP NEXT

Mizzou and Vanderbilt play game three of the series Saturday at 2 p.m.

— Mizzou Athletics —

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Baseball opened a pivotal weekend series against No. 10 Vanderbilt with a 2-1 victory on Thursday night at Taylor Stadium. The closely-contested ballgame featured plenty of high-leverage at bats, but Mizzou LHP T.J. Sikkema and reliever RHP Andy Toelken stifled the Commodores enough to preserve the one-run win. The pair was aided by an errorless Mizzou defense that influenced the ballgame all evening. With the victory, Mizzou improves to 7-9 in SEC play.

Sikkema’s fifth SEC start featured a career-high 10 strikeouts over 6.0 innings of one-run ball. During a stretch from the second inning until the fifth, the sophomore retired 1- straight Commodores. Following Sikkema’s exit after six frames, Toelken dominated the game down the stretch. Toelken hurled 3.0 perfect innings and struck out four, sealing the Mizzou victory while earning a save, his third of the season and second this week.

The win was career No. 200 for second-year Mizzou head coach Steve Bieser.

TURNING POINT

After senior Trey Harris gave Mizzou a 2-1 lead with an RBI single in the bottom of the fifth, the right fielder combined with senior 2B Matt Berler for a perfect 9-4-2 relay to preserve Mizzou’s one-run lead. After Vanderbilt’s Philip Clarke hit a one-out double, Clarke tried to score on a shot down the right field line. Harris fielded the ball in the corner cleanly on one hop and fired to Berler, who executed a perfect relay throw to catcher Brett Bond, nabbing Clarke at the plate. Mizzou escaped the inning with the lead and only allowed one Vanderbilt baserunner after the crucial relay play.

QUOTING MIZZOU

Head Coach Steve Bieser

“It’s a signature win for us, starting a series off that way. We know that we still have work to do. They’ve lost their Friday night games before and come back to win the series, so we know we’ve got a lot of work ahead of us. We need to continue to pitch and defend and get timely hitting and we have to take chances on offense. We took a lot of chances tonight – some worked, some didn’t. Overall, it’s about finding one more run than the other team finds.”

TOP TIGERS

• Sophomore SP T.J. Sikkema made another stellar SEC start, lasting 6.0 innings and allowing only one run while scattering seven hits. Sikkema sat down a career-high 10 batters on strikes and issued only two walks. During a stretch from the second to the fifth inning, Sikkema retired 10 straight Commodores. Through five starts in SEC play this season, the sophomore has 35 strikeouts and only eight walks over 32.1 innings
• Senior RP Andy Toelken dominated out of the Mizzou bullpen, preserving the Tigers 2-1 lead with a 3.0-inning save. Toelken was perfect against the nine batters he faced and struck out four. The senior has allowed only one hit over his last 5.1 innings while accumulating six strikeouts. Since moving to the bullpen, he has two wins, three saves and has allowed just one run over 17.1 innings.
• Senior RF Trey Harris went 1-for-3 at the dish and knocked in a run to give the Tigers a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth. Harris now has a team-leading 36 RBI and has four hits over his last three games. Harris also teamed up with Berler on the key run-saving play in the sixth inning.
• Senior 2B Matt Berler was 1-for-3 at the plate and drove in the game’s first run on an RBI infield single in the bottom of the second. Berler worked a tedious nine-pitch advantage and knocked in Cade Bormet on a hard groundball up the middle. Berler’s RBI was his first in SEC play.

NOTES

• With the victory, Mizzou improves to 2-16 against Vanderbilt all-time
• The win was No. 200 in head coach Steve Bieser’s career as a Division I head coach.
• Mizzou played their first Thursday game this season, posting a 1-0 record
• After the win, Mizzou is now 15-10 in three-game series
• With the win over #10 Vanderbilt, Mizzou is now 7-6 this season against ranked opponents
• Mizzou has dominated at Taylor Stadium this year, posting a 17-3 record at home
• Mizzou improves to 5-1 in one-run games after the win
• The Tigers are now a perfect 10-0 when allowing only one run
• Despite being out-hit 7-4 by Vanderbilt, Mizzou escaped with a victory. The Tigers are now 5-11 this season when being out-hit
• After another errorless performance, Mizzou is now 20-3 when making zero errors
• Trey Harris was hit by a pitch for the tenth time this season, moving him to fifth in the SEC in HBP
• Connor Brumfield swiped his seventh bag of the season
• Mizzou won its second game of the season when tallying fewer than five hits.

UP NEXT

Mizzou hosts Vanderbilt in game two of the series Friday night at 6:30 p.m.

— MWSU Athletics —