ORLANDO, Fla. – Mizzou Women’s Golf was selected in the Alabama Regional of the NCAA Women’s Golf Championship to be held at Shoal Creek Golf Club on May 5-7, as announced on Golf Central on Golf Channel Monday evening. The Tigers earned a No. 8 seed in the regional that will be played in Shoal Creek, Alabama, outside of Birmingham.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled for our players and Mizzou that we earned a spot in the NCAA Regionals tonight,” head coach Stephanie Priesmeyer said. “This has been a total team effort all year long and by far one of the most competitive teams from top-to-bottom that we have had in a long time. We are excited for our lone senior, Michelle Butler, that her season will continue and she can keep leading our team this postseason.

“You never want to take these moments for granted and we have been blessed with hard-working and dedicated players that have done everything we have asked of them and more. This is for them and for all of our support staff that have helped our players be the best they can be on and off the course this season.”

The Tigers rank 11th nationally in scoring average (291.9), which is the best mark in program history by eight strokes (300.1, 2013-14). During the 2015-16 slate, Mizzou has recorded the five lowest team scores in program annals and seven of the top 10 ever.

Additionally, four of the top five individual scoring averages have been established in 2015-16, led by a program record from senior Michelle Butler (Dunedin, Fla.) and 72.59. Freshman Emma Allen (Southampton, England) has the second-best average (73.30) while junior Jessica Meek (Carnoustie, Scotland) ranks fourth (74.17) and sophomore Clara Young (North Berwick, Scotland) ranks fifth (74.21).

Allen and fellow freshman Amanda Kim (O’Fallon, Mo.) have the lowest freshmen average in program history at 73.30 and 75.00, respectively. A third freshman, Marit Harryvan (Winschoten, Netherlands) joined the program midyear and has recorded the fourth-best freshman scoring average (76.08) in program archives.

Individually, Tiger golfers have carded six of the eight lowest rounds ever in the Mizzou program and nine of the top 15. Butler set a program record with a 65 (-7) in the second round of the Johnie Imes Invitational at The Club at Old Hawthorne on Sept. 28, 2015. Young shot a 66 (-6) in the same round. As a team, Mizzou set a program record by 21 strokes by shooting

Monday’s selection marks the first NCAA Regional appearance for the program since 2008, when the Tigers completed a run of six consecutive appearances in postseason play. Mizzou made 10 appearances in an NCAA Regional over an 11-year span from 1998-2008.

The NCAA Women’s Golf Championship will be covered by Golf Channel’s Morning Drive and Golf Central shows with scores, highlights and analysis following each round. Golf Channel Digital will provide live scoring and news coverage of the regional championships.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. – Mizzou Baseball dropped its series finale at No. 12 South Carolina on Sunday afternoon (April 24), 9-2, thanks in large part to South Carolina RF Gene Cone, who had five hits, three RBI and three runs while finishing a homer shy of the cycle. The loss drops Mizzou to 20-21 and 4-14 in SEC play while South Carolina goes to 33-8 and 14-4 in SEC play.

Mizzou starter Michael Plassmeyer (St. Louis, Mo.) took the loss after going 3.2 innings, allowing seven hits and five runs (all earned) while striking out three and walking none. He falls to 3-4 on the year. South Carolina freshman starter Adam Hill earned the win, moving to 6-0 on the year. He scattered just four hits over 6.1 shutout innings, striking out eight and walking just one while hitting a batter.

Mizzou senior 1B Zach Lavy (Auxvasse, Mo.) continued his All-SEC caliber season with an RBI double in the eighth inning. He now leads the SEC with 16 doubles and 27 extra-base hits this season. The RBI was his team-leading 36th of the season. Lavy’s 16 doubles are the most by a Tiger since Jonah Schmidt had 17 in 2011 while Lavy still has 15 regular season games remaining.

Mizzou threatened in the first inning as Jake Ring (Ingleside, Ill.) and Ryan Howard (St. Charles, Mo.) roped back-to-back one-out singles to put two men aboard. But Hill struck out Lavy and Trey Harris (Powder Springs, Ga.) to strand a pair. South Carolina then took command of the game early with a two-spot in the first inning, sparked by a leadoff triple from RF Gene Cone.

Plassmeyer settled in during the second inning for an easy 1-2-3 inning, highlighted by a running, over-the-shoulder catch in center by Ring on a ball hit by Madison Stokes. Mizzou then stranded a pair again in the third inning as Howard and Lavy flew out in consecutive at-bats with two men aboard as Mizzou stranded four through three innings.

South Carolina got another run in the third, again sparked by an extra-base hit from Cone as he doubled off the wall in right. He was then singled in by TJ Hopkins, but Plassmeyer got a pair of strikeouts to get out of the inning allowing only the one run.

Cone again got to Mizzou in the fourth, roping a bases-loaded delivery up the middle for his third hit of the day to plate two more and extend Carolina’s lead to 5-0. Cone drove in South Carolina’s sixth run on hi second double of the day in the sixth inning to make it 6-0 after six. He was gunned at the plate on a great play by Lavy to fire home for the third out after a ball caromed off of RHP Grant Macciocchi’s (West Chester Township, Ohio) glove and to Ian Nelson (Lake St. Louis, Mo.) at second. Nelson fired to Lavy to try and get the out and then Lavy fired home to get Cone who was attempting to score from second.

Lavy then sparked a two-out rally in the eighth, roping a double off the wall the other way into left center to score Howard from first. Harris then lined one through the right side to score Lavy as Mizzou scored a pair in the frame. South Carolina got those runs back and more in the eighth, plating three runs on four hits and a walk.

Mizzou will return home to close a streak of eight consecutive games against ranked teams Tuesday when it hosts in-state rival Missouri State.

— Mizzou Athletics —

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Mizzou Baseball dropped game two of its series at No. 12 South Carolina, 5-1, on Saturday afternoon at Founders Park. Mizzou starter Tanner Houck (Collinsville, Ill.) was tagged with the loss despite turning in a quality start, allowing just six hits over 6.0 innings while being charged with three runs (two earned) with five strikeouts and two walks. Carolina’s Braden Webb earned the win as he improved to 8-2 on the year.

The loss drops the Tigers to 20-20 overall and 4-13 in SEC play while South Carolina goes to 32-8 and 13-4 in SEC play. Offensively, Mizzou was led by CF Jake Ring (Ingleside, Ill.), who had a pair of hits and an RBI. Senior 1B Zach Lavy (Auxvasse, Mo.) had his career-long 11-game hitting streak snapped but he did walk and was hit by a pitch as he has reached base safely now in 12 straight games.

After Webb struck out the side in the first inning, Houck came out and struggled, allowing the first five South Carolina batters to reach base. Alex Desitno delivered a bases-loaded single through the right side to plate a pair, but Houck minimized the damage after that, getting a 1-2 fielder’s choice and a pair of strikeouts to get through the inning.

After knocking in a pair of runs, Destino then made a diving catch in left to rob extra bases from OF Trey Harris (Powder Springs, Ga.). That turned out to be a big out as Brett Bond (St. Louis, Mo.) singled in the next at-bat as the play likely saved a run. Bond has now hit safely in five consecutive games. RF Kirby McGuire (Round Rock, Texas) also walked in the frame and he has now reached base safely in a team-long 15 consecutive games.

Houck had to pitch out of trouble again in the second as the first two Gamecock batters reached base a walk and hit batter. But he got a flyout, a strikeout and 1-3 bounce out to get out of the inning. Jonah Bride then doubled to lead off the third inning and scored on a passed ball to give South Carolina a 3-0 lead after three innings.

Mizzou finally got to Webb in the top of the fifth inning as he walked a pair to bring up Ring who singled through the right side for his second hit of the day and an RBI, cutting into the lead. After Webb walked the bases loaded, Lavy flew out to center to strand the bases loaded.

The Tigers threatened to get more in the sixth inning, putting two men aboard with two outs, but Shane Benes (Town & Country, Mo.) struck out to strand a pair. Mizzou left eight runners on base through the first six innings as South Carolina carried a 3-1 lead into the seventh.

Mizzou stranded two more runners in the seventh inning on a tremendous play in the right centerfield gap by CF Dom Thompson-Williams as he went down to his shoelaces for a catch on a sinking line drive by Harris, which likely would have been extra-bases and runs for Mizzou.

RHP Cole Bartlett (Williamsburg, Ind.) then relieved Houck in the bottom of the seventh. South Carolina added two unearned runs off of Bartlett on a single to right center by Destino, who drove in four of South Carolina’s five runs on Saturday. That put the game out of reach for Mizzou.

Mizzou and South Carolina will play game three of their series tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. (CT) at Founder Park.

— Mizzou Athletics —

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Baseball sophomore RHP Tanner Houck (Collinsville, Ill.) has been named to the Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List as announced Wednesday (April 20) by USA Baseball. This is the second consecutive season that Houck has landed on the list after being one of just four freshmen to earn the distinction last year. He is the first Mizzou player to land on the Golden Spikes Watch List as both a freshman and sophomore. The Golden Spikes Award is given to the nation’s top amateur player.

Houck has been sensational this year for head coach Tim Jamieson. He has twice earned SEC Pitcher of the Week and took home Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week honors following a dominating start against Vanderbilt in which he allowed two hits over 9.0 shutout innings while striking out a career-high 14. He also earned SEC Pitcher of the Week honors after a complete game shutout of Auburn in which he allowed just four hits with 10 strikeouts. In all, Houck is 4-3 on the year with a 3.22 ERA and is limiting batters to just .187 hitting while striking out 70 in 64.1 innings. He has surrendered just 43 hits n 64.1 innings. In SEC play, batters are hitting just .188 against Houck with just 24 hits in 36.1 innings and he has struck out 38.

Houck has been tabbed as the No. 1 prospect for the 2017 Major League Baseball Draft by several national scouting services. He has also been selected to pitch for USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team for the second consecutive season after earning USA Baseball’s Top International Performance Award for pitching four perfect innings in a combined no-hitter vs. Cuba last summer.

Houck and the Tigers play at No. 12 South Carolina for a three-game series this weekend.

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COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Men’s Basketball has signed future student-athlete Jordan Geist (Fort Wayne, Ind.) to the program’s 2016 recruiting class, head coach Kim Anderson announced. A 6-3, 180-pound guard, Geist earned Second Team NJCAA All-America recognition last season at Ranger College (Ranger, Texas), leading the Rangers to a fourth-place finish at the 2016 NJCAA Division I National Championship.

Geist averaged 15.1 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game as a freshman during the 2015-16 season, helping head coach Billy Gillispie’s squad to a stout 35-3 record. The newly-signed Tiger showed impressive marksmanship throughout the campaign, shooting 45.6 percent from the field and 35.3 percent from three-point territory.

“Jordan Geist has a winner’s mentality on and off the court,” Anderson said. “His ability to be another trustworthy ball handler and relentless defender for Mizzou Basketball was important to us. Jordan is a savvy player who immediately brings solid experience and leadership to our squad. We’re excited to have Jordan and his family become a part of our program, and we cannot wait to have him in Columbia this summer.”

The Rangers were assisted by Geist’s solid play during its postseason run at the NJCAA national tournament in Hutchinson, Kan., with the guard averaging 11.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.0 steals during Ranger College’s five-game stretch. Geist’s stellar postseason was boosted by a 29-point performance (9-of-15 FG, 10-of-15 FT) in his squad’s 87-74 victory over sixth-seeded Eastern Florida State College in the tournament’s second round.

“The atmosphere and culture surrounding Mizzou’s program is very exciting to me,” Geist said. “The campus is beautiful and the basketball arena is second-to-none. Coach Anderson and his staff treated me so well on my visit. That made me excited to be a part of the program. Playing in a great conference was also important to me. The SEC has great competition and has tough programs to play against. And I’ll be getting great coaching from the Mizzou coaches. I know they’ll prepare us the right way.”

Before his highly successful stop in the junior college ranks, Geist was a standout player in the competitive Indiana high school basketball scene. He helped Homestead High School to an Indiana Class 4A State Championship as a senior in 2014-15. With Geist at the point for head coach Chris Johnson, the Spartans posted an impressive 30-2 season record. Geist compiled averages of 16.8 points and 3.6 assists per game in his final high school season.

Geist earned Indiana Junior All-Star honors following his junior season at Penn High School (Mishawaka, Ind.), in which he averaged 17.7 points and 3.3 assists per game. He led the Kingsmen to a school record 23-2 mark.

Geist has proven to be a winner, with the last three teams he has played for (Penn HS, Homestead HS, Ranger College) combining for an 88-7 record (92.6 winning percentage) over the last three seasons.

“Mizzou fans will see toughness from me,” Geist said. “I’m out there to win and give everything I have for Mizzou Basketball. I think the little things are the most important parts of basketball. On defense, you have to bother people. I’ll do whatever it takes to win.”

Geist’s signing joins him with the current 2016 recruiting class of Frankie Hughes (Cleveland, Ohio), Willie Jackson (Cleveland, Ohio), Reed Nikko (Maple Grove, Minn.) and Mitchell Smith (Van Buren, Ark.).

— Mizzou Athletics —

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Baseball dropped the final game of a three game series against No. 9 LSU Sunday (April 17) at Taylor Stadium, 15-2. Freshman LHP Michael Plassmeyer (St. Louis, Mo.) took the loss, throwing 4.2 innings, allowing eight hits, five earned runs, one walk and two strikeouts while LSU’s John Valek III earned his sixth win of the season. Mizzou now sits at 20-18, and 4-11 in SEC play.

Sophomore C Brett Bond (St. Louis, Mo.) led Mizzou at the plate, tallying his first three-hit game of the season while tallying his team-leading sixth homer of the season. Senior 1B Zach Lavy (Auxvasse, Mo.) extended his hitting streak to a career-long 10 games, the longest such streak by a Mizzou player this season. He did so on an eighth-inning double, his 15th of the season. He now leads the SEC in extra-base hits at 25 and his 15 doubles match the most by a Mizzou player since 2011 (17 by Jonah Schmidt).

In the top of the first LSU’s bats started off hot, scoring five runs. The Tigers led with three straight base hits scoring one, and an error by freshman INF Brian Sharp (Liberty, Mo.) brought in another run, making it 2-0. After two runs scored, another base hit down the right field line brought in the third run, then a fielders choice followed by another base hit brought in the last two runs of the inning.

Mizzou struck back in the bottom of the second scoring one run with two singles by sophomore OF Trey Harris (Powder Springs, Ga.) and sophomore C Brett Bond (St. Louis, Mo.), and a fielders choice by Sharp to bring in Harris.

R-Sophomore RHP Cole Bartlett (Williamsburg, Ind.) came in to relieve Plassmeyer in the top of the fifth with two runners left on. After a walk and a base hit, LSU plated two more runs to extend its lead 7-1.

Bond led off the bottom of the fifth with a solo homerun; his team-leading sixth of the season cutting LSU’s lead to 7-2. It was his second homer in as many days.

LSU rebutted in the top of the seventh with three solo homers and wound up putting up a five-spot in the inning to extend the lead to 12-2. That put the game out of reach for Mizzou and LSU added three more in the ninth.

Mizzou does not have a midweek game next week as it shifts its focus to a weekend series at South Carolina, beginning next Friday (April 22).

— Mizzou Athletics —

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Baseball dropped game two of its series with No. 9 LSU, 9-5, on Saturday afternoon at Taylor Stadium. The game was tied 4-4 going into the seventh, but LSU scored five runs in the frame with four coming on a grand slam by Beau Jordan to take a 9-5 lead. LSU tagged Mizzou starter Tanner Houck (Collinsville, Ill.) for a career-high eight runs and five walks as he took the loss, his third of the season. Mizzou falls to 20-17 and 4-10 in SEC play this season.

LSU’s Alex Lange earned the win, his third of the season. LSU improves to 24-11 and 8-6 in SEC play. Senior 1B Zach Lavy (Auxvasse, Mo.) extended his hitting streak to a career-long nine games, the longest streak by a Tiger this season. C Brett Bond (St. Louis, Mo.) and OF Trey Harris (Powder Springs, Ga.) each homered in the loss. Harris drove in two of Mizzou’s four runs, his seventh game this season with multiple RBIs, second on the team.

Houck cruised through the first inning on 13 pitches, getting a pair of strikeouts looking and an easy 1-3 bounce out to retire the side. After Mizzou put two men aboard against Lange in the first, Trey Harris (Powder Springs, Ga.) struck out to strand a pair. LSU then tagged Houck for a two-out run in the second inning on an RBI single to RF by Beau Jordan.

Houck then escaped a runners-on-the-corners, no-out jam in the third with a pair of Ks and a flyout to center. Mizzou then took that momentum into the bottom of the third and plated a pair of runs, both with two outs. The first came on an RBI single by Harris and the next on a bases-loaded walk by Kirby McGuire (Round Rock, Texas).

LSU then scored three in the fourth inning, all with two outs, to take a 4-2 lead. Mizzou then homered in back-to-back innings in the fourth and fifth with solo shots by Brett Bond (St. Louis, Mo.) and Harris to tie the game at 4-4. Bond’s homer was his team-leading fifth while Harris’ was his first of 2016.

The game remained tied until the seventh inning as Houck struggled, loading the bases with two singles and a walk. He then walked in a run to give LSU a 5-4 lead while ending his day in favor of reliever Liam Carter (Highland Park, Ill.). Carter surrendered a grand slam to Beau Jordan and that gave LSU a 9-4 lead.

Mizzou then went quietly in the seventh and eighth despite reliever Austin Tribby (Springfield, Mo.) coming in and settling things down, pitching 2.1 shutout frames to close the game. Mizzou added a run in the ninth on Lavy’s team-leading 14th double of the season, cutting the lead to 9-5.

Mizzou and LSU will close the three-game series Sunday at 1 p.m.

— Mizzou Athletics —

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Men’s Basketball has signed future student-athlete Frankie Hughes (Cleveland, Ohio) to the program’s 2016 recruiting class, head coach Kim Anderson announced. A 6-4, 185-pound guard, Hughes inked financial aid agreement documents Wednesday morning to affirm his commitment to Mizzou.

Hughes tormented Ohio’s Division I, the state’s highest section of high school basketball, alongside current Mizzou signee Willie Jackson, with the Garfield Heights duo set to wear the Black & Gold for the 2016-17 season. Both Hughes and Jackson were named to the Associated Press’ Division I All-Ohio First Team to close their senior seasons, in which they led Garfield Heights to back-to-back regional titles for the first time in school history.

“Bringing someone with Frankie’s ability and attitude into our program is very exciting,” Anderson said. “He comes from an outstanding program at Garfield Heights where he competed and won on the biggest stage in the state of Ohio. We feel Frankie’s skillset can make an impact with our program. Most of all, he comes from a great family and is a young man who I think Mizzou fans will enjoy getting to know.

“Frankie will join his high school teammate and longtime friend, Willie Jackson, here at Mizzou. We’re really looking forward to having both of those young men on campus this summer.”

As a senior in 2015-16, Hughes averaged 19.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game for the Bulldogs, leading head coach Sonny Johnson’s squad to a strong 23-5 record and a second consecutive state semifinals appearance. Hughes was recognized to cleveland.com’s boys basketball All-Star team for his efforts.

Hughes showed his potential for big scoring outputs throughout his senior year, recording five games of 20 points or more. He scored 20 points in the thrilling 70-69 double overtime win over Shaw that gained Garfield Heights the regional crown.

Hughes was considered one of the top prospects in the state of Ohio throughout his senior season, ranking as high as 11th in the state according to 247sports.com.

“Everybody is on the same page for Mizzou, it’s exciting to know the program really is a family,” Hughes said. “I feel like the coaching staff and players all really know each other and have great relationships. That stood out to me. I know I’ll bring a lot of energy, both of as a student, athlete and Columbia resident. I can’t wait to get on campus and have a lot of interaction with everyone. I’m a people person.

“I think Mizzou fans will see that I won’t give up on any play. If it’s a loose ball, I’m diving. At this level, you have to understand that every play counts.”

As a junior in 2014-15, Hughes helped lead Garfield Heights to a stout 24-4 record before bowing out to eventual champion, Westerville South, by a score of 60-57. Hughes recorded a double-double to end his junior campaign with 14 points and 11 rebounds.

Hughes averaged nearly 15 points per game as a junior, including a season- and career-high 28 points vs. Mentor early in the campaign.

Hughes previously signed a national letter of intent to Louisville before asking for his release. The newly-inked Tiger also considered Miami (Fla.), Texas A&M, VCU, Wichita State and Wisconsin, among others, at the time.

Hughes’ signing joins him with the current 2016 recruiting class of Jackson, Reed Nikko (Maple Grove, Minn.) and Mitchell Smith (Van Buren, Ark.).

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