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Category: College

Missouri loses series finale against No. 10 Vandy

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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 —

Griffons drop series opener at No. 18 Central Oklahoma 5-2

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EDMOND, Okla. – Three early runs were the difference as No. 18 Central Oklahoma (30-14, 22-8) took game one of a three-game series from Missouri Western (22-19, 14-13) on Friday.

UCO scored two in the first and added another in the second on the way to a 5-2 victory. Both first inning runs were unearned. An error led to the first run and a wild pitch allowed the second. The Griffs scored their first run on a wild pitch in the fourth before Maurice Bruce made it 3-2 with a solo home run in the sixth. UCO added one in the seventh and another in the eight for insurance to stop the Griffs’ win streak at four games.

NOTABLES

  • Kellan Richards broke the MWSU single season appearances record with his NCAA-leading 28th of the season. The junior broke Eric Snider’s record set in 1985. Richards struck out the only batter he faced Friday.
  • Bruce’s home run was his second this season and first since March 18 at Southwest Baptist
  • Casey Danley extended his hitting streak to 16 games with a 1-for-4 day at the plate
  • Brooks Day went 2-for-4 and scored one of the Griffons’ runs. Day has hit safely in nine straight games and 11 of his last 12
  • Griffon batters struck out 14 times in the game

UP NEXT
Game two of the series comes Saturday at 3 p.m. in Edmond, Oklahoma.

— MWSU Athletics —

Bearcats complete three-game sweep at Missouri Southern

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– The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team picked up a pair of wins over Missouri Southern on Friday in Joplin, Mo.
– The Bearcats improve to 25-18 overall, 20-9 in conference, while the Lions fall to 23-20 overall and 11-18 in conference play.

Game One Key Statistics (Northwest 4, Missouri Southern 1)
– Northwest scored one in the first and three in the second inning. The Lions got one run in the third inning.
– The Bearcats had four runs on eight hits with one error. Missouri Southern had one run on four hits with one error.
– Aaron Barratt finished 2-for-4.
– Hudson Bilodeau went 1-for-3 with one run scored, one RBI, a walk and a homerun.
– Mondesi Gutierrez was 1-for-4 with two RBIs.
– Luke Hassman finished 1-for-4.
– Kevin Handzlik was 1-for-4 with one run scored.
– Matt Schingel went 1-for-4.
– Derek Hussey was 1-for-3 with a stolen base, a run scored and a walk.
– Brad Roberts threw eight innings allowed only three hits and one earned run while striking out eight Lions.

Game One Key Innings
– To start the game, Bilodeau hit a homerun over the right field fence to give the Bearcats the lead at one.

– Handzlik started the second inning by reaching safely on an error and advanced to third on a single to left center by Barratt. After an out, Handzlik came in to score on a wild pitch and Barratt moved to third. Hussey drew a one out walk and stole second and Bilodeau drew a walk to load the bases. Gutierrez singled to left center to score Barratt and Hussey to put the Bearcats ahead 4-0.

Game Two Key Statistics (Northwest 7, Missouri Southern 6)
– The Bearcats scored four in the second, two in the fourth and one in the eighth inning. MSSU scored five runs in the first and one in the sixth inning.
– Northwest had seven runs on 11 hits and no errors. The Lions scored six run on 11 hits with no errors.
– Hassman finished the game going 3-for-5 with two RBIs, a double and a run scored.
– Logan Rycraft went 3-for-4 with one RBI, a run scored and a stolen base.
– Barratt was 2-for-5 with two runs scored, and RBI, a double and one stolen base.
– Bilodeau went 1-for-4 with one walk.
– Handzlik was 1-for-4 with one run scored, a double and one walk.
– Hussey went 1-for-4 with with two RBIs and a run scored.
Game Two Key Innings
– Hassman started the second inning with a single through the left side and advanced to third on a double down the right field line by Handzlik. Barratt followed it up with a double of his own to score Hassman and put Handzlik on third. After an out, Hussey singled up the middle to score Handzlik and Barratt. Rycraft kept the inning going with a single to right field to put runners on the corners. Hussey came in to score on a balk to conclude the scoring from the Bearcats.

– After an out, Rycraft and Bilodeau got the inning going with singles to put two runners on. Gutierrez reached on a fielder’s choice to put runners on the corners. Figg walked to load the bases adn Hassman doubled down the right field line to score Rycraft and Gutierrez to give the Bearcats a 6-4 lead.

– Barratt started the inning with a single to left field and stole second after an out. With two outs, Rycraft singled up the middle to score Barratt and give the Bearcats the lead.

Up Next
– Northwest will take on Missouri Western Wednesday, April 25, 2 p.m. in St. Joseph, Mo.

— Northwest Athletics —

Western softball loses final regular season games at Emporia State

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EMPORIA, Kan. – Griffon Softball (24-27, 15-11) dropped the final two regular season games of the season at Emporia State (24-28, 14-12) on Friday night.

Missouri Western was held to three hits in a 2-0 game one loss and fell 9-1 in five innings in game two. The losses left Missouri Western in sixth place in the MIAA. Saturday’s results will determine the team’s seed in next week’s MIAA Championships. Northeastern State’s doubleheader against Missouri Southern and Lindenwood’s against Central Missouri will determine where the Griffs land.

Shelbie Atwell’s second inning home run in game two was the Griffons’ lone run of the doubleheader and the only hit for MWSU in game two. Atwell was the only Griff with more than one hit. Rebekah Mueller and Shelby Uhl also had hits in game one. Uhl drew a pair of walks. Riley Wilson walked three times.

UP NEXT
The MIAA Championships begin April 26 at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium complex in Oklahoma City. The bracket is expected to be released April 22.

— MWSU Athletics —

Vierling’s RBI single lifts Mizzou to series win over No. 10 Vanderbilt

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COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou freshman 2B Mark Vierling delivered a crucial two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the eighth inning to propel Mizzou Baseball a dramatic 3-1 victory over No. 10 Vanderbilt on Friday night at Taylor Stadium. Mizzou’s clutch pitching and timely defense again helped the Tigers to take down the Commodores. Mizzou will aim to complete the series sweep tomorrowafternoon at 2pm.

In his second ever SEC start, Mizzou southpaw Tyler LaPlante hurled a gem. The junior tossed 6.0 innings of three-hit ball while allowing only one run. LaPlante struck out five while issuing only two free passes. He was relieved by Bryce Montes de Oca who escaped jams in both the seventh and eighth innings with his heater that was touching the upper 90s. After Vierling gave Mizzou the lead, junior closer Nile Ball held off the Commodores in the ninth and sealed the 3-1 win while earning his fifth save of the season.

TURNING POINT

With the score knotted at 1-1 in the top of the eighth, Montes de Oca faced a jam with Commodores on first and third. The redshirt junior flamethrower executed back-to-back strikeouts to escape the Vanderbilt threat and that kept the game tied 1-1.

In the bottom half of the frame, Mizzou SS Chris Cornelius led off of the inning with a walk and was moved to second on a Paul Gomez sacrifice bunt. After Trey Harris intentionally walked, Tony Ortiz also drew a free pass. A batter later, pinch-hitter Mark Vierling, who was hitless in his last 21 at bats, delivered a two-run single through the left side in the biggest at-bat of the ballgame. The clutch knock gave Mizzou a 3-1 advantage.

QUOTING MIZZOU

Head Coach Steve Bieser

“He picked the right time to get a hit. It was just a good matchup for Mark. Mark has been scuffling a bit in April, but he is a fastball hitter and they were bringing their guy in who has a plus fastball, so we knew we were going to get a fastball. Just sent up there and told him to be ready to hit. He had a great at-bat, really pleased with him and proud of him. He was battling because it has been very frustrating this month for him.”

TOP TIGERS

  • Junior LHP Tyler LaPlante made a solid outing in his second career conference start. He faced 24 batters through 6.0 complete innings, allowing only one run off three hits. LaPlante finished with five strikeouts for the third time this season.
  • Redshirt junior RHP Bryce Montes De Oca came on in relief in the seventh inning, striking out four of the nine batters he faced. He allowed only two hits in his 2.0-inning appearance.
  • Freshman 2B Mark Vierling snapped a 0-21 slump at the plate with a go-ahead two run single in the eighth inning.
  • Junior LHP Nile Ball entered with a two run in the ninth inning and earned his fifth save of the season.

NOTES

  • Tonight’s attendance of 2,312 marks a season high.
  • With the victory, Mizzou is now 3-16 against Vanderbilt all-time.
  • Mizzou moves to 8-6 against ranked opponents this season with the victory over No. 10 Vanderbilt.
  • The Tigers remain perfect, 11-0, when allowing only one run.
  • Despite being out-hit 6-4 by Vanderbilt, Mizzou secures the victory. For the second night in a row, the Tigers have won while only totaling four hits. The Tigers move to 6-11 when being out-hit by their opponent.
  • With tonight’s win, the Tigers improve their record to 17-3 at home, and 20-5 at night.
  • Mizzou improves to 6-4 in Friday appearances.
  • The one error tonight was the team’s first since April 14th at Florida.
  • With late game heroics, Mizzou improves to 3-1 when tied after the 7th inning.

UP NEXT

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

— Mizzou Athletics —

Northwest softball gets swept by Washburn

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– The Northwest Missouri State University softball team falls in a pair of conference games against Washburn University in Topeka, Ks.
– The Bearcats fall to 25-17 overall and 16-10 in conference, while Washburn improves to 39-10 overall and 23-3 in conference play.

Game One Key Statistics (Northwest 1, Washburn 5)
– Northwest scored one run in the fifth inning. The Ichabods scored three runs in the first, one in the third and one in the sixth inning.
– The Bearcats had one run on eight hits and one error. Washburn scored five runs on nine hits and zero errors.
– Erin Keeney finished 2-for-3 and drew a walk.
– Karli Allen was also 2-for-3.
– Rebecca Maher went 1-for-3 and drew a walk.
– Kaitlyn Weis finished 1-for-4 and scored one run.
– Abigail Gilson was 1-for-3.
– Kiana Baderdeen went 1-for-3.
– Sydne Brashear knocked in the one Bearcat run.
Game One Key Innings
– After an out, Weis singled up the middle and Keeney followed it up with a single of her own to move Weis to third. Brashear hit a fly ball to center field to score Weis and put the Bearcats on the board.

Game Two Key Statistics (Northwest 2, Washburn 3)
– The Bearcats scored one run in the fourth and fifth inning. Wasburn scored one run in the third and two in the sixth inning.
– Northwest had two runs on four hits and two errors. The Ichabods had three runs on eight hits and two errors.
– Brashear finished the day going 2-for-3 with a double.
– Maher finished 1-for-3 with an RBI, a walk and a double.
– Weis was 1-for-4 with a run scored.

Game Two Key Innings
– Weis started the top of the fourth with a single to center field and moved to second on sacrifice bunt by Keeney. Brashear reached on a fielding error to put runners on the corners. Gilson hit a sacrifice fly to second base to score Weis from third.

– In the fifth inning, Rawie drew a walk to get teh Cats going and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Baderdeen. Maher doubled to left field to score Rawie and put the Bearcats up 2-1.

Up Next
– Northwest will wait for the final rankings to be set for Conference Tournament.

Kansas’ Udoka Azubuike to enter NBA Draft without an agent

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LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas sophomore Udoka Azubuike is entering his name into the 2018 NBA Draft without hiring an agent, Azubuike and KU head coach Bill Self announced Friday.

“I want to declare for this year’s (NBA) draft, but I am not going to hire an agent,” Azubuike said. “I’m going to wait and see where I stand among other bigs out there. I appreciate everyone’s support, but I’m not saying goodbye. I’m saying I want to find out. Like many other players, I’m curious.”

“I improved a lot this past season,” Azubuike continued. “All my teammates and all my coaches have helped me to grow in all areas of my life and I really appreciate what they did for me to get to this point.”

The move will allow Azubuike to receive evaluations from NBA teams and participate in the NBA Draft Combine, May 16-20, in Chicago. Azubuike will have until May 30 to withdraw his name from the NBA Draft should he choose to return to Kansas for his junior season in 2018-19.

“Udoka has been thinking about this since the end of the season and he feels it’s in his best interest to declare and test the waters which we, as a staff, totally understand and encourage him to do,” Self said. “He’s leaving the option to come back. Doke has improved a tremendous amount this year and we all look forward to seeing how his progression is until it is his time to make a decision on whether to stay in (the draft) or pull his name out.”

In 2017-18, Azubuike led NCAA Division I in field goal percentage at 77.0, which broke the Kansas and Big 12 Conference single-season records. His 77.0 field goal percentage ranks second best for a season in NCAA history. The Delta, Nigeria, 7-foot-0, 280-pound center also led Kansas with six double-doubles, in rebound average at 7.0 boards per game, in blocked shots with 60 and in dunks with 120. A 2017-18 All-Big 12 Third-Team selection, Azubuike ranked seventh in the conference in rebound average, sixth in blocked shots (1.7) and eighth in double-doubles.

In 2017-18, Azubuike posted seven 20-point games, including a career-high 26 points at in KU’s win at Nebraska on Dec. 16. He had six games of 10 or more rebounds, including a career-high 13 boards in Kansas’ victory at Texas on Dec. 29.

— KU Athletics —

Griffon softball splits doubleheader at Washburn

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TOPKEA, Kan. – Griffon Softball (24-25, 15-9) nearly shook up the MIAA standings in its next-to-last doubleheader of the regular season. Missouri Western became just the third MIAA team this season to defeat Washburn, 7-4, in game one before the Ichabods (37-10, 21-3) rallied in game two to clinch the MIAA regular season championship, 5-4.

Morgan Frost hit a grand slam in the fifth inning of game one to put the Griffons on top 6-4. MWSU added another insurance run in the sixth and held on for the 7-4 win in game one. The Griffons took a 4-3 lead in the top of the sixth in game two, but two Washburn runs in the bottom half of the inning were enough for Washburn to clinch the regular season conference championship. Missouri Western had runners on second and third with one out in the top of the seventh, but the Griffons weren’t able to get the tying run to the plate.

NOTABLES

  • Gabi Carter went 3-for-6 including a two-run home run in the second inning of game one. Carter also doubled and walked once
  • Frost was 3-for-8 with a double and a home run, driving in four
  • Tamara Hicks went 2-for-4 on the day with two RBI, two walks and two stolen bases
  • Riley Wilson scored twice and walked three times in the doubleheader
  • The Griffons stole five bases in five attempts on the day and walked 10 times
  • Northwest Missouri was swept in its doubleheader at Emporia State, Thursday, leaving the Griffons one game behind the Bearcats for third place in the MIAA standings

UP NEXT
Missouri Western plays its final regular season games, Friday, at Emporia State. The doubleheader is set to begin at 5 p.m.

— MWSU Athletics —

Bearcat baseball opens with 4-3 win at Missouri Southern

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The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team defeats Missouri Southern, 4-3, on Thursday in Joplin, Mo.

The Bearcats improve to 23-18 overall and 18-9 in conference while the Lions fall to 23-18 overall and 11-16 in conference play.

Key Northwest Statistics
– Northwest scored all four runs in the first inning. Missouri Southern scored one in the second and two in the fourth inning.
– The Bearcats had four runs on nine hits and three errors. The Lions had three runs on eight hits with two errors.
– Hudson Bilodeau went 3-for-5 with one run scored.
– Luke Hassman was 2-for-4 with one run scored, a double and one run batted in.
– Kevin Handzlik finished 2-for-3 with one RBI, drew one walk and a double.
– Mondesi Gutierrez went 1-for-4 he drew one walk and a run scored.
– Landon Figg was 1-for-4 with one run scored.
– Joseph Hietpas got the win for the Cats after throwing 6.2 innings, allowed only three runs and struck out seven batters.
– Trevor Dudar picked up his ninth save of the year after throwing one inning. 

Key Northwest Innings
– Bilodeau started the game off with a single through the right side and moved to second on a bunt single by Gutierrez. Figg reached safely on a throwing error which allowed Bilodeau to come around and score from second. Hassman kept the hitting going with a double down the right field line to bring in Gutierrez and put runners on the corners. Handzlik brought in Figg from third with a single through the right side. After an out, Schingel laid down a sacrifice bunt to score Hassman and put the Bearcats up 4-0.

Up Next
– The Bearcats will take on Missouri Southern on Friday, April 20, for a double header starting at noon in Joplin, Mo.

— Northwest Athletics —

Missouri baseball takes down No. 10 Vanderbilt in series opener

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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 —

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