COLUMBIA, Mo. – No. 18 Mizzou triumphed in a 12-1 win over SIU-Edwardsville on Wednesday night at Taylor Stadium. Senior OF Trey Harris (Powder Springs, Ga.), senior DH Brett Bond (St. Louis, Mo.), senior IF Alex Samples (Bridgeport, Texas), senior OF Matt Berler (Hoover, Ala.), junior PH Zach Hanna (Shawnee, Kan.) and freshman C Chad McDaniel (Coral Springs, Fla.) all recorded two hits. Both Harris and junior 1B Isaiah Cullum (Bushnell, Fla.) homered.

Junior LHP Tyler LaPlante (Blue Springs, Mo.) pitched a scoreless 3.0 innings, improving his record to 4-1 while striking out a season-high of six batters. SIU-E RHP David Llorens tallied his third loss of the season. Mizzou improves to 22-7 of the season. SIU-E drops to 7-19.

TURNING POINT

Senior DH Brett Bond (St. Louis, Mo.) jumpstarted the offense in the second inning with a leadoff single to centerfield. Bond then proceeded to steal second and third base. Junior 1B Isaiah Cullum(Bushnell, Fla.) walked and then stole second base. With runners in scoring position, sophomore SS Chris Cornelius (St. Louis, Mo.) grounded out to the right side, scoring Bond. Next, Junior IF Paul Gomez (Orange, Calif.) walked and senior LF Matt Berler (Hoover, Ala.) singled, loading the bases for senior RF Trey Harris (Powder Springs, Ga.). Harris singled to right field, driving in both Cullum and Gomez, bringing the total of runs scored in the second inning to three.

QUOTING MIZZOU

Head Coach Steve Bieser: 
“We were hoping that we could throw three or more guys than we did. Our goal with yesterday’s game being cancelled was to get the entire bullpen some work. Last weekend ,we used six pitchers, so not a lot of people got work. It was important to get the guys who got work tonight the work they needed and it worked out really well.”

TOP TIGERS

• . Junior LHP Tyler LaPlante (Blue Springs, Mo.) pitched a scoreless first three innings, posting a season-high six strikeouts and allowing two hits.
• Junior 1B Isaiah Cullum (Bushnell, Fla.) recorded a two-run homer in the bottom of the third inning.
• Senior RF Trey Harris (Powder Springs, Ga.) was 2-3 at the plate, singling in the second inning and adding a solo homer in the fourth. Harris drove in three RBIs, making that his seventh multi-RBI game this season.
• Senior 3B Alex Samples (Bridgeport, Texas) singled in the third and fourth innings, going 2-3 at the plate and adding an RBI.
• Senior DH Brett Bond (St. Louis, Mo.) went 2-4, singling in the second and sixth innings.
• Junior IF Paul Gomez (Orange, Calif.) walked four times in his five at-bats. This ties his season-high for walks in a game.
• Junior PH Zach Hanna (Shawnee, Kan.) went 2-3, recording two singles and two RBIs. It was Hanna’s fourth multi-RBI game and his fourth multi-hit game.
• Senior OF Matt Berler (Hoover, Ala.) recorded a single in the second inning and a triple in the eighth inning. He also tallied two RBIs.
• Freshman C Chad McDaniel (Coral Springs, Fla.) had two hits a double in the fourth inning and a single in the seventh inning.

NOTES

• Mizzou now leads the all-time series with SIU-Edwardsville, 17-4.
• Mizzou improves to 4-0 on Wednesdays and is a perfect 7-0 in midweek games this season.
• Mizzou improves to 14-1 at home this season.
• Mizzou has won three in a row and four of five heading into its weekend series with Alabama.
• Junior 1B Isaiah Cullum stole his first career base Wednesday, doing so after walking in the second inning.
• Cullum followed that with his first HR as a Tiger in the bottom of the third.
• Senior LF Matt Berler tallied his first hit since March 3 with an infield single in the first inning.
• Senior OF Trey Harris posted his seventh multi-RBI game of the season, tying him for the team lead.
• Harris added his team-leading fifth homer of the season in the bottom of the fourth inning. Over his last five games, Harris is 9-for-19 with six runs, 11 RBI and three homers.
• Senior Alex Samples turned in his sixth multi-hit game of the year.
• INF Paul Gomez walked four times, marking his second career four-walk game.
• Mizzou played its 18^th errorless game of the season. Mizzou had just 16 such games a year ago.

UP NEXT

Mizzou welcomes Alabama to Taylor Stadium for a three-game set this weekend, beginning Friday at 6:30 p.m.

— Mizzou Athletics —

AUBURN, Ala. – No. 22 Mizzou Baseball earned its first road series win over a ranked opponent since 2016 with a 5-0 Easter Sunday (April 1) win over No. 16 Auburn at Plainsman Park. Senior OF Trey Harris (Powder Springs, Ga.) hit a go-ahead grand slam, his second of the season, in the top of the fifth inning to back a tremendous start by RS junior Bryce Montes De Oca (Lawrence, Kan.). Mizzou has won two of its three SEC series this season and four of its last five dating back to last season.

Montes De Oca improved to 4-1 on the season after allowing just one hit over 6.0 shutout innings, striking out five and walking four. Auburn starter Tanner Burns took the loss, falling to 2-4 on the year.

Harris drove in five runs, one off a career-high, with four coming on the grand slam, which was Mizzou’s first hit of the game. Mizzou’s pitching staff threw a one-hitter in the win.

Mizzou is now 21-7 and 5-4 in SEC play and is tied for fourth in the league standings through three weeks of action.

TURNING POINT

Mizzou got a fifth-inning rally started as a key error by Auburn 2B Luke Jarvis played a big part in Mizzou breaking a 0-0 tie. Senior 3B Alex Samples (Bridgeport, Texas) and freshman OF Cade Bormet(San Antonio, Texas) drew back-to-back two-out walks to turn the lineup over to the leadoff man Harris. After Harris took a curveball to lead off his at-bat, Auburn starter Tanner Burns threw him a 0-1 fastball and Harris turned on it, sending it over the green monster in left field for the go-ahead grand slam.

It was Mizzou’s first hit of the game and all four runs were unearned as the error set up the big inning. It was Harris’ second grand slam of the season.

QUOTING MIZZOU

Head Coach Steve Bieser:
“Hits were tough to come by early in the game. Both pitchers had great stuff going – they were throwing the ball well. We just had to hang in there and we put all of that together and Trey came up with the big blow and got us into a situation we felt really good about.”

On the series win… 
“I’m really happy with our effort and it is a big series win for us. What we talked about postgame was the reason that we are here in this position is what we have done up to this point. We can’t take anything for granted. We have to continue to work hard and know that each series is its own challenge. We have tough travel back in – we’ll get home late tonight and we have to start next week. We have five games sitting in front of us and it is going to be very challenging. We have to enjoy the moment right now, but we have to get ready to go next week.”

TOP TIGERS

• Senior OF Trey Harris (Powder Springs, Ga.) hit a go-ahead, two-out grand slam in the top of the fifth inning. It was his second homer of the series and he has now reached base in a career-best 20- consecutive games. It was Harris’ second grand slam of the season and first since Feb. 28 vs. Alabama A&M. Harris drove in five runs Sunday, the second-most he’s had this season (six vs. Alabama A&M).
• RS junior RHP Bryce Montes De Oca (Lawrence, Kan.) went 6.0 shutout innings and allowed just one hit while striking out five in his fourth win of the season.
• Junior RHP Nile Ball (Decatur, Ga.) tallied his fourth save of the season, pitching the final 3.0 innings, allowing no hits with a season-high four strikeouts.

NOTES

• Mizzou now leads the all-time series with Auburn, 12-5, and has won all five three-game series that it has ever played against Auburn.
• Mizzou improves to 3-3 on Sundays.
• Mizzou improves to 2-1 in rubber games this season.
• Mizzou is now 13-5 in three-game series this season.
• Mizzou improves to 6-4 in road games this season and 8-6 in games away from home.
• Senior OF Trey Harris walked to lead off the game, extending his career-best streak to 20 consecutive games reaching base safely. When leading off an inning, Harris has reached in 14 of 30 opportunities (.467).
• Mizzou has now won two of three SEC series this season, marking the first time since 2015 that Mizzou has won two of its first three SEC series.
• Mizzou has now won four of its last five SEC weekend series dating back to last season.
• Mizzou earned its first road series win over a ranked team since downing then No. 15 Arkansas from April 1-3, 2016.
• Mizzou earned its first SEC shutout since May 19, 2017, in a 5-0 win at Tennessee. It was Mizzou’s fifth shutout this season.
• Sophomore CF Kameron Misner drew his SEC-leading 32^nd walk of the season in the seventh inning.
• Senior C Brett Bond turned in his ninth multi-hit game of the season.
• Mizzou was the only SEC road team to win a series this weekend.

UP NEXT

Mizzou will be back in action Tuesday, playing in-state foe Missouri State at Busch Stadium, home of Major League Baseball’s St. Louis Cardinals. First pitch for that game is at 6:30 p.m.

— Mizzou Athletics —

AUBURN, Ala. – No. 22 Mizzou Baseball scored the go-ahead run on a dropped fly ball in the top of the seventh inning as it upended No. 16 Auburn, 2-1, Saturday night (March 31) at Plainsman Park. Senior RHP Andy Toelken (Green Cove Springs, Fla.) pitched the final 4.0 innings to earn his first win, holding Auburn off the scoreboard as Mizzou rallied for the win. Mizzou improves to 20-7 and 4-4 in SEC play while evening the series with Auburn, setting up a 2 p.m. rubber game on Easter Sunday.

Toelken and starter Michael Plassmeyer (St. Louis, Mo.) were tremendous in Mizzou’s road win over the nation’s No. 5 RPI team. Plassmeyer pitched 5.0 innings, scattering just six hits with seven strikeouts while surrendering just one run. Toelken came in with game tied 1-1 and pitched in 4.0 high-pressure innings, striking out three while allowing just one hit.

Senior OF Trey Harris (Powder Springs, Ga.) hit the ball to left in the seventh inning that was dropped by LF Conor Davis, allowing the winning run to score from second base.

TURNING POINT

After Mizzou tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the fifth inning on a Trey Harris (Powder Springs, Ga.) RBI double, the visiting Tigers grabbed the lead in the top of the seventh inning. Harris roped a pitch into left field and Auburn LF Conor Davis drifted under it in the gap and appeared to grab it for the third out. But the ball popped out of his glove allowing Alex Samples (Bridgeport, Texas) to score from second, giving Mizzou a 2-1 lead.

QUOTING MIZZOU

Head Coach Steve Bieser:
“Well it was a pitcher’s duel tonight. Our guys threw the ball outstanding. It was tough on both sides to muster any kind of offense tonight. All I told our guys is that we have to know what type of game we are playing and settle in and win that type of game. I thought they were able to do that tonight.”

TOP TIGERS

• Senior OF Trey Harris hit an RBI double on a 0-2 pitch in the top of the fifth inning to tie the game at 1-1. It extended his hitting streak to five games and he has now reached base in 19 straight games. That is the longest streak by a Tiger this season and it is the longest streak of his career. Harris singled in the ninth to give him his 10^th multiple hit game of the season.
• Junior LHP Michael Plassmeyer was great in his seventh start of the season, going 5.0 innings while allowing one run on six hits with seven strikeouts in a no-decision.
• Senior 3B Alex Samples turned in his fifth multi-hit game of the season and scored the go-ahead run in the seventh inning.
• Senior RHP Andy Toelken earned his fourth win of the season after tossing the final 4.0 innings, allowing just one hit while striking out three.

NOTES

• Mizzou now leads the all-time series with Auburn, 11-5.
• Mizzou improves to 7-2 on Saturdays this season.
• Mizzou is 12-5 in three-game series this season.
• Mizzou is now 5-4 on the road this season and 7-6 away from home
• Mizzou improves to 15-2 in night games this season.
• Mizzou is now 3-0 in one-run games this season.
• Junior lefty Michael Plassmeyer struck out seven batters in his seventh start of the season. He now has 58 on the year, resetting his single season career high of 54, set a season ago.

UP NEXT

Mizzou and Auburn will play an Easter Sunday game tomorrow at 2 p.m.

— Mizzou Athletics —

AUBURN, Ala. – Mizzou Baseball dropped its series opener to No. 16 Auburn, 5-2, Friday night (March 30) at Plainsman Park. Senior OF Trey Harris (Powder Springs, Ga.) hit a leadoff homer on the first pitch of the game before Auburn starter – projected first round draft pick Casey Mize – tossed 7.1 innings in his sixth win of the season. He allowed two runs on five hits without a walk while striking out seven. It was his fewest strikeouts in a start this season and just the fourth time he has allowed multiple runs in a start.

Mizzou sophomore LHP T.J. Sikkema (DeWitt, Iowa) took the loss, his first of the season, after allowing four runs on six hits over 6.0 innings. Auburn tagged him for two runs in the bottom of the first and two more in the bottom of the sixth to put the game away.

Mizzou falls to 19-7 (3-4 SEC) while Auburn improves to 22-5and 4-3 in SEC play.

TURNING POINT
With Mizzou trailing 2-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, Auburn finally got to Mizzou starter T.J. Sikkema after the first-inning barrage. Sikkema walked the leadoff man Will Holland, despite getting ahead 1-2. He then walked Steven Williams despite being up 0-2 and three-hole hitter Brendan Venter made him pay, roping a single to right field to extend Auburn’s lead to 3-1. The home Tigers added a run a sacrifice fly and took a 4-1 lead.

Mizzou cut the lead to 4-2 in the top of the seventh on a sacrifice bunt by Connor Brumfield (Columbia, Mo.), but Auburn DH Edouard Julien hit a leadoff homer in the bottom half of the frame and that was all the scoring Friday.

TOP TIGERS
– Senior OF Trey Harris homered on the first pitch of the game, taking a fastball to left center for his third homer of the year. He has reached base safely in 18 straight games.

– Sophomore CF Kameron Misner doubled in the first inning, extending his hitting streak to eight games. It was his team-leading ninth double of the season. He has reached base in 18 straight games and hit safely in eight.

NOTES
– Despite the loss, Mizzou still leads the all-time series with Auburn, 10-5.

– Mizzou falls to 5-2 on Fridays this season.

– Mizzou is now 11-5 in three-game series this season.

– Mizzou falls to 4-4 on the road and 6-6 away from home this season.

– Sophomore CF Kameron Misner doubled in the first inning, extending his hitting streak to eight games. It was his team-leading ninth double of the season. He has reached base in 18 straight games.

– Senior OF Trey Harris has reach base in 18 straight games as well after his first-inning homer.

– Mizzou scored in the first inning for the 12th time in the last 16 games. On the year, Mizzou has scored in the first inning in 15 of 26 games, going 13-2 in those contests.

UP NEXT
Mizzou and Auburn play game two of their three-game set Saturday at 6 p.m.

— Mizzou Athletics —

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Missouri’s Michael Porter Jr. says he is declaring for the NBA draft.

The 6-foot-10 forward made the announcement on Instagram on Monday “after talking it over with my coaches and my family.”

Missouri was eliminated from the NCAA Tournament by Florida State in the opening round. The freshman scored 16 points in 28 minutes as a reserve, just his third appearance of the season due to a back injury.

Porter played two minutes in the team’s opener, then had lower back surgery Nov. 21. He returned for the SEC Tournament, scoring 12 points in a loss to Georgia.

“I wish I could have been on the floor with my brothers every single night,” Porter wrote. “But I’m so thankful I’ve been a part of such a special group.”

Porter was a McDonald’s All-American in high school after averaging 36.2 points and 13.6 rebounds per game his senior year. He was expected to be a one-and-done player, though the back injury threw some uncertainty into his draft stock.

— Associated Press —

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou junior Sophie Cunningham has been named Associated Press All-America Honorable Mention, as announced by the AP on Monday. It marks the second consecutive season Cunningham has received the honor.

Cunningham is the first Tiger named All-America Honorable Mention in back-to-back seasons since Joni Davis in 1984 and 1985. Cunningham and Davis are the only two players in program history to achieve that feat.

Cunningham arguably had the most efficient season by any player in the nation as a junior. She is the only player in the nation shooting at least 45 percent from 3-point range, 54 percent from the field and 83 percent from the free throw line. She reached double figures 28 times in 31 games and scored at least 20 points on 13 different occasions.

Cunningham scored 18.5 points per game, which ranked fourth in the SEC. She captained her team to 24 wins, the most by a Mizzou squad since 1983-84. Cunningham and company reached at least 22 victories for the third consecutive season and captured a third straight NCAA Tournament berth. Only 15 Power 5 programs have won at least 22 games and gone to the NCAA Tournament in each of the last three seasons.

Cunningham shined when it mattered most, pouring in 27 points on 9-of-10 shooting and dishing seven assists vs. No. 4 South Carolina. She notched 20 points vs. No. 2 Mississippi State, 32 points vs No. 11 Tennessee and 29 points vs. Kentucky.

The standout junior wrapped up the campaign with a Mizzou record for points in an NCAA Tournament game, scoring 35 vs. Florida Gulf Coast. With a career-best 574 points as a junior, Cunningham has 1,563 career points already through three seasons, which ranks eighth all-time at Mizzou.

— Mizzou Athletics —

COLUMBIA, Mo. – No. 25 Mizzou Baseball scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game before freshman INF Mark Vierling (St. Louis, Mo.) hit a walk-off sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 11th inning at the Tigers rallied past Mississippi State for a 5-4 win Sunday (March 25) at Taylor Stadium. Mizzou improves to 19-6 and 3-3 in SEC while winning its first ever series against Mississippi State. The Bulldogs fall to 13-12 on the year and 1-5 in SEC play.

Senior RHP Andy Toelken (Green Cove Springs, Fla.) earned the win after throwing a shutout 11th inning, improving to 3-2 on the season. Mississippi State’s JP France took the loss, falling to 1-1. Vierling had the RBI that tied the game in the ninth and the RBI that won the game in the 11th.

Mizzou has now won 13 of 14 home games this season. The Tigers play four games on the road next week, beginning Wednesday with a 3 p.m. game at Western Illinois.

TURNING POINT
Mississippi State carried a 4-2 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning after getting three runs on four straight hits in the top of the seventh. A pinch-hit single by junior OF Zach Hanna (Shawnee, Kan.) game Mizzou life in the ninth as he lifted a pitch into center field for his first hit of the day. A throwing error put the tying run on base for leadoff man, senior Trey Harris (Powder Springs, Ga.). He ripped an RBI single up the middle to cut the lead to 4-3.

After a Kameron Misner (Poplar Bluff, Mo.) walk to load the bases, Vierling hit into what appeared to be a game-ending double play, but MSU 3B Jordan Westburg bobbled the ball as he tried to step on third, allowing each runner to advance safely on the error, including the tying run at home as Mizzou knotted things up at 4-4. Misner’s walk to load the bases came after he fell behind in the count, 0-2.

After Toelken threw a shutout 11th, Mizzou got things going in the bottom of the frame, again sparked by a single from Harris. Misner followed with another single to move Harris to third, but we did not stay there for long. Vierling lifted the game-winning sacrifice fly off of France to left field and Harris trotted home to score the winning run.

TOP TIGERS
– Sophomore CF/1B Kameron Misner continued his hot play as of late, proving why he is one of the best hitters in the SEC. He went 3-for-4 with a run and two walks and now has multiple hits in eight of his last 10 games.

– Senior OF Trey Harris also turned in a three-hit performance, his ninth multi-hit game of the season. He scored the game-winning run, one of two on the day, and drove in another from the leadoff spot.

– Freshman INF Mark Vierling had two RBI, one to tie the game in the ninth and another to win it in the 11th.

NOTES
– Mizzou won its first ever series over Mississippi State and cut into the all-time series lead at 9-2.

– Mizzou improves to 2-3 on Sundays this season.

– Mizzou is now 2-1 in extra innings this season.

– Mizzou is now 11-4 in three-game series this season and 1-1 in rubber games.

– Mizzou scored again in the first inning on Sunday and is now 12-2 in such contests this season.

– Senior OF Trey Harris was hit by his ninth pitch this season to leadoff the game. That ties him for second in the SEC this season, trailing only Arkansas’ Heston Kjerstad.

– Kameron Misner drew two walks Sunday, moving his national-best total to 31. He walked 23 times all of last season. He leads the SEC with a .565 OPB and reached in five of six plate appearances Sunday.

– Misner and Harris combined to go 6-for-9 with three runs, an RBI and two walks as they sparked the Mizzou lineup all day.

UP NEXT
Mizzou will be back in action Wednesday at Western Illinois at 3 p.m.

— Mizzou Athletics —

COLUMBIA, Mo. – No. 25 Mizzou Baseball dropped the second game of a three-game series, 3-1, against Mississippi State in 15 innings Saturday evening at Taylor Stadium. It was Mizzou’s first defeat in the last 16 outings at home. Mizzou tallied 10 hits on the day in a 15-inning battle, but could not come up with timely hits when it needed them, stranding 16 runners in the loss. Mizzou fell to 18-6 (2-3 SEC) on the year while Mississippi State improved to 13-11 (1-4).

Mizzou junior LHP Michael Plassmeyer (St. Louis, Mo.) got the start for the Tigers. Plassmeyer pitched eight strong innings and fanned eight batters, his most strikeouts in an SEC game. Junior LHP Tyler LaPlante(Torrance, Calif.) was tagged with the loss, after allowing two runs in the top of the 15th inning.

Mizzou junior OF Conner Brumfield (Columbia, Mo.) robbed a home run early in the third running to save what would have been a two-run home run and keep the game scoreless. Mizzou broke through offensively in the bottom of the seventh inning. A lead-off double by senior INF Alex Samples (Bridgeport, Texas) followed by a base hit by junior OF Conner Brumfield (Columbia, Mo.) put two men on for junior INF Paul Gomez (Orange, Calif.). Gomez stepped to the plate and hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Samples and give the Tigers a 1-0 lead.

Mississippi State knotted the game in the top of the ninth and surged in front in the 15th, preventing any Mizzou runs in extra innings.

TURNING POINT
LaPlante took the mound in the 15th inning for the Tigers. Mississippi State junior OF Jake Mangum led off with a double through the left side to start the inning Bulldogs. Another base knock gave Mississippi State another baserunner with no outs. With runners in scoring position, junior INF Hunter Stovall rocketed a two-out single off Mizzou relief pitcher Konnor Ash and the ball skipped to the outfield, allowing the Bulldogs to plate two runs and take the lead 3-1.

TOP TIGERS
– Junior LHP Michael Plassmeyer was brilliant in his second SEC start, going 8.1 innings, allowing just five hits with two walks and eight strikeouts. He gave up his only run on a one-out single in the ninth on his 115th pitch of the game. The innings pitched and strikeouts are his best ever in an SEC game.

– Plassmeyer now has a 51-6 strikeout-walk ratio this season.

– Freshman DH Mark Vierling tallied his sixth multi-hit games.

– Junior LF Connor Brumfield went 1-for-3 as his bunt single in the seventh inning allowed Mizzou to take a 1-0 lead, setting up the sacrifice fly by Paul Gomez. Brumfield also made a game-changing catch, robbing what would have been a go-ahead two-run homer in the third inning, leaping over the wall and bringing it back for the out.

– Senior 3B Alex Samples scored the go-ahead run in the seventh inning after leading off the frame with his fourth double of the year in just 38 at-bats. Samples turned in his second career three-hit game this season, both of which have been this week.

UP NEXT
Mizzou and Mississippi State will play again Sunday at 1 p.m.

— Mizzou Athletics —

COLUMBIA, Mo. – No. 25 Mizzou Baseball won its 15th consecutive home game after defeating Mississippi State, 4-1, Friday night at Taylor Stadium. The 15-game winning streak is Mizzou’s longest home winning streak in 11 years. Mizzou tallied 11 hits in the program’s first-ever win over Mississippi State. The Tigers held the Bulldogs to one run and avoided any errors for the ninth time in 10 games.

Mizzou improves to 18-5 (2-2 SEC) on the year while Mississippi State moves to 12-11 (0-4).

After Mizzou head coach Steve Bieser shook up the weekend rotation, sophomore lefty T.J. Sikkema (DeWitt, Iowa) earned the win for the Tigers during his first start of the season. The preseason All-American went a season-high 7.0 innings while striking out seven and allowing just one run on four hits. Mississippi State starter Konnor Pilkington took the loss, falling to 1-3.

TURNING POINT
In the bottom of the third inning, neither team had scratched across a run. Back-to-back hits by senior OF Trey Harris (Powder Springs, Ga.) and Kameron Misner (Poplar Bluff, Mo.) put two men on for senior C Brett Bond (St. Louis, Mo.). He stepped to the plate and after an eight-pitch at bat, blasted an RBI single to score Harris and advance Misner to third. A wild pitch helped bring in Misner to give the Tigers a pair of runs and a 2-0 lead.

Mizzou then tacked on two insurance runs in the bottom of the seventh. The first came on a Bond RBI single as Harris and Misner reached base in front of him again, setting up another big inning. Mizzou got its fourth run on a double-steal as Misner advanced home for the fourth run, putting the game away.

TOP TIGERS
– Sophomore LHP T.J. Sikkema made his first start of the season Friday and was dominant over 7.0 innings, his longest outing since a complete game, four-hitter at Tennessee on May 18, 2017. He allowed just four hits and a run (solo homer in the sixth) with one walk while matching a season-high seven strikeouts.

– Senior C Brett Bond had a pair of RBI singles, going 3-for-3 with two RBI as he delivered in big spots twice during the win.

– Sophomore CF Kameron Misner went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and a stolen base. He leads the SEC with 33 runs.

– Senior RF Trey Harris went 1-for-3 with two runs and was hit by a pitch. He is second in the SEC in runs with 32.

– Junior 2B Paul Gomez turned in his third two-hit game of the season.

– Senior RHP Andy Toelken tallied his first career save Friday, tossing the final 2.0 innings.

NOTES
– Mizzou won its first ever game over Mississippi State Friday. MSU had won the first eight meetings as the series is now 8-1.

– Mizzou moves its home winning streak to 15 straight games, its longest since winning May 5, 2006 through March 23, 2007, when it won 16 straight at home, marking the longest such streak in 11 years to the day.

– Mizzou moves to 5-1 on Friday nights this season.

– Mizzou is now 10-3 in three-game series this season.

– Mizzou is 15-1 when scoring first this season.

– Mizzou has committed just one error in its last 10 games and now is fielding at .984, a top-10 mark nationally. Mizzou now has 14 errorless games this season in 23 contests – Mizzou had just 16 such games all of last season.

– Mizzou is 13-1 when not committing an error this season.

– Sophomore CF Kameron Misner singled in the first inning, extending his hitting streak to five straight games and he has reached base in 15 straight.
Misner now has five straight multi-hit games and 12 on the season.

– Misner stole his SEC-best 12th base Friday and scored his SEC-leading 33rd run.

– Senior OF Trey Harris scored his 32nd run, second in the SEC, and has reached base safely in 15 straight games.

– Mizzou tagged Mississippi State starter Konnor Pilkington for a season-high nine hits and a season-high two walks. Mizzou struck out just five times against Pilkington, his second-lowest total of the season.

– T.J. Sikkema had thrown 7.0 innings in his previous five outings before going a season-long 7.0 innings Friday night. His seven strikeouts were his most since his first appearance of the season at No. 24 Miami during week two.

UP NEXT
Mizzou and Mississippi State will play again Saturday at 2 p.m.

— Mizzou Athletics —

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Women’s Basketball head coach Robin Pingeton has been named a finalist for the WBCA NCAA Division I National Coach of the Year Award. Pingeton is one of 10 finalists, joining Vic Schaefer (Mississippi State), Cori Close (UCLA), Jennifer Gross (UC Davis), Jeff Walz (Louisville), Kim Mulkey (Baylor), Lisa Bluder (Iowa), Muffet McGraw (Notre Dame), Charlotte Smith (Elon) and Brenda Frese (Maryland).

Only four coaches nationally have been named a WBCA National Coach of the Year finalist for the second consecutive season: Pingeton, Schaefer, McGraw and Frese.

Pingeton steered Mizzou to its third consecutive campaign with at least 22 victories for the first time since 1982-85 and its third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance for the first time since 1984-86. Mizzou is one of 15 Power 5 programs with at least 22 wins and an NCAA Tournament appearance in each of the last three seasons.

The Tigers spent the entire 2017-18 campaign ranked in the Top 25, climbing as high as No. 11 in the AP poll, their highest ranking since 1984, and No. 9 in the Coaches’ Poll, their highest ranking in that poll in program history.

Pingeton and company finished with 24 victories, which is tied for the fifth-most in a campaign in program history. Mizzou had no losses to teams outside the NCAA Tournament field.

The Tigers boasted wins over Tennessee, South Carolina and California, among others. Mizzou has won 16 of its last 22 regular season games over SEC opponents under Pingeton.

— Mizzou Athletics —