Tigers Fall At Missouri
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missouri (27-23) scored nine unanswered runs in a 9-1 defeat of Memphis (24-26) to even the three-game series at Taylor Stadium on Saturday.
T.J. Rich ripped a solo home run to right field to lead off the second inning and Memphis gained the 1-0 lead. Rich’s home run was the third of the season and his first since April 15 against East Carolina. The Tigers looked to tack on more runs in the second, but the potential run was thrown out at the plate on a single by Jacob Wilson.
Memphis starter Sam Moll cruised through the first three innings, issuing just one walk in the second inning. Missouri broke through in the fourth with three runs on two hits and a Memphis error. Eric Garcia singled to left to start the frame and Dillon Everett was walked to put the first two batters on base. Ben Turner laid down a sac bunt, but the throw to first was errant allowing the tying run to score. With runners on second and third and no outs, Andreas Plackis singled to left to give Missouri a 3-1 advantage.
A leadoff walk issued in the fifth came back to bite Memphis as Missouri grabbed a 4-1 lead. Dane Opel moved to second on a sacrifice bunt after the leadoff walk and he moved to third on an infield single by Brannon Champagne. A sacrifice fly by Garcia plated Opel to give Missouri the 4-1 lead.
Missouri added five runs in the seventh to take a commanding 9-1 lead. Sommerfield blasted a leadoff homer in the inning before Moll put two outs on the board in the seventh. Four walks and three singles led to four more runs in the inning. Memphis managed two hits over the final seven innings and had three base runners reach in the final five at-bats.
Ethan Gross led the Memphis offense with two hits on the game, but Missouri out-hit Memphis 9-6 on the game. Moll (4-5) was tagged with the loss as he allowed nine runs on eight hits in 6.2 innings of work. John Miles (4-1) earned the win as he pitched seven innings and allowed one run on six hits and struck out one.
Memphis and Missouri play the rubber match of the series on Sunday at 1 p.m.
