University of Missouri
Wake Forest
Missouri Takes Two Wins at Easton/USA Challenge
3/12/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 12, 2004
MU vs. Wake Forest Box Score | MU vs. Indiana State Box Score
MILLINGTON, Tenn.-- - The Missouri baseball team went to extra innings for the second straight game in the first of two games on Friday at the Easton/USA Challenge in Millington, Tenn. Unlike last Sunday, when the Tigers' game with Washington finished in a 6-6 tie after 10 inning, Friday's battle with Wake Forest did produce a winner.
Freshman OF Hunter Mense, who did not start the game but entered in the extra innings, doubled in the top of the 12th inning to drive in the winning run in a 5-4 win. The Tigers made it two-for-two on the day by defeating Indiana State 7-6 in their second game of the day. They took a 7-0 lead into the ninth and held on to win after ISU put six runs across the plate.
Against Wake Forest, Mizzou found itself in an early hole, after the Demon Deacons scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning.
The Tigers began to cut into the lead in the top of the fourth as senior LF Ryan Rallo hit his fifth home run of the year. The solo shot extended Rallo's hit streak to 13 games and brought MU within one run of Wake Forest.
In the next inning, Mizzou took the lead away from Wake Forest putting two runs on the board. With one out, senior C Brad Flanders walked and sophomore RF James Boone singled. Boone had a big game, going 4-for-5. Sophomore CF Tyler Williams drove in the two base runners with a triple off of the wall in center.
The lead did not last long as the Demon Deacons put two runs across the plate in the bottom of the fifth with the help of two infield hits and an error by MU, giving Wake Forest a 4-3 lead.
Missouri tied the game with a home run by senior 1B Cody Ehlers, his fifth of the year, tying Rallo for the team lead in that category.
In the twelfth inning, freshman SS Gary Arndt was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a wild pitch. He then scored the winning run on the double by Mense.
Senior RHP Danny Hill started on the mound for MU and went seven innings for the second consecutive start. He allowed four runs, three of which were earned, on six hits. He struck out four, walked one and left the game with the score tied at four.
About 45 minutes after the extra-inning win, Mizzou was back on the field to face Indiana State and scored first in the bottom of the third inning. The first two batters in the inning were retired. Williams was then was hit by a pitch, stole second and was driven in on a single by sophomore 2B Zane Taylor.
MU broke the game open with a five-run sixth inning which started when Rallo led off with a double to take his hitting streak to 14 games, the longest streak for Mizzou since former Tiger Jayce Tingler put together a 14-game streak in 2003.
Boone and Caballero each had RBI singles in the sixth and Arndt tripled down the right field line with the bases loaded to drive in all three runners.
Two more runs crossed the plate in the seventh inning for MU as Ehlers and Boone combined fore back-to-back doubles. Boone's double was the sixth hit of the day for him after his four hits in the opening game.
Indiana State then had the six-run ninth and had the tying run on third when the final out was recorded.
Admire started and went four innings, matching his season-long outing as he continues his return from elbow surgery. He did not give up a run and allowed four hits while striking out three and walking one. Freshman LHP Nathan Culp relieved Admire and allowed just one hit in four scoreless innings, striking out four and walking one.
With the two wins, MU Head Coach Tim Jamieson's career record moved to 299-219-2 and he can get his 300th career win on Saturday when Mizzou will face Memphis at 6 p.m. on Saturday in Millington before closing out play in the tournament at 3 p.m. on Sunday against Tennessee-Martin. The ZRG Radio Network (1580 KTGR in Columbia) will carry all of the Tigers' games with Tex Little and Luke Cassis providing the commentary. The broadcasts can also be heard online www.KTGR.com.
