University of Missouri
Central Missouri
Tigers Rally To Beat Central Missouri State, 12-8
3/28/2000 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 28, 2000
COLUMBIA, MO -- The Missouri Tigers spotted the Central Missouri State Mules five runs in the first inning Tuesday night at Taylor Stadium at Simmons Field, then spent the rest of the game coming from behind. Their climb up the ladder was rewarded with a five-run, eighth-inning rally that allowed the Tigers (17-10) to win their third straight game, 12-8 over the Mules (15-7), who are ranked No. 20 in NCAA Division II.
MU trailed 8-7 when J.R. Warner started the eighth with a drag bunt single, and Ryan Stegall walked. After Nick Wilfong struck out against lefthander Justin Starnes, Jon Williams singled to right field to drive in the tying run. One out later, Landon Brandes, playing in his first game after missing nine with a broken left hand, singled to center to score the lead run. Eric Horner came on in relief and uncorked a wild pitch that enabled Williams to score. Kurt Propst and Luke Cassis walked to load the bases before Jayce Tingler singled in the Tigers' final two runs of the inning.
Stegall pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning to protect the victory for Ralph McCasland (5-2). McCasland pitched three-and-two-thirds innings, allowing four hits and one run. He struck out four and walked two. Missouri is 14-0 this season when leading after eight innings. Starnes was the losing pitcher (0-2).
CMSU preyed on Brandes in the first inning. Craig Ringe ripped starter Drew Endicott's first pitch of the game threw Brandes' legs for an error, then Matthew Stafford dropped a bunt single in front of Brandes at third. Another bunt by Seth Collins loaded the bases before Nathan Lipowicz doubled to clear the bases. Chris Curry singled ahead of Matt Whitney who singled home a run and Thad Pealer lifted a sacrifice fly to give the Mules a 5-0 lead.
Missouri finally got on the board with three runs in the third inning but CMSU scored two more in the fifth off of reliever P.J. McGinnis before McCasland came on to work out of a jam. Williams brought the Tigers to within 7-5 in the bottom of the fifth inning with a two-run home run to right field, his fourth homer of the season and second in as many games.
Wilfong ripped a two-out hit to right field in the sixth inning to score two Tiger runs to tie the score.
Central Missouri moved ahead, 8-7, in the seventh inning. Curry walked to open the frame and advanced to second on a ground out by Whitney. He scored on a single to center field by D.J. Thrash, a high school teammate of McCasland's in Jefferson City. McCasland, though, got pinch-hitter Brian Sargeant to hit into an inning-ending double play - just the 11th turned by the Tigers this season.
Missouri travels to Ames, Iowa, this weekend for a three-game series against the Iowa State Cyclones (6-18, 1-8) who dropped both ends of a doubleheader Tuesday against Winona State. Friday's series opener starts at 3 p.m. and will be followed by 1 p.m. games on Saturday and Sunday.
