University of Missouri
Saint Louis
Mizzou Picks Up Shutout of Billikens
4/28/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 28, 2004
O'FALLON, Mo. -- - Mizzou used a home run from sophomore Trevor Helms and a two-run double by freshman Hunter Mense to snap its four-game losing skid with a 3-0 win over Saint Louis on Wednesday night in the annual "Wood Bat Classic" in O'Fallon, Mo.
The game was the fifth installment of the annual "Wood Bat Classic" in which both teams utilize wood bats in place of the normal aluminum versions.
The pitchers took control of the game early, as it remained scoreless through the first four innings. Mizzou freshman Nathan Culp and SLU starter Kris Weber kept the bats silent until the Tigers put the first run on the board in the top of the fifth
Helms then sent a solo homer over the wall in left field for his first homer as a Tiger. He finished the day 2-for-3 and stole a base.
Then, with two on base and two outs in the top of the sixth, Mense added to the MU lead with a double to the wall in left center, driving in both baserunners.
Culp remained in control for Mizzou on the mound. After giving up three hits in the first two innings, Culp allowed only one baserunner from the third inning until he left the game following the seventh. The lone Billiken to reach base during that time came in the sixth, when Casey Moore reached on an error, but was then erased on a double play.
Sophomore Taylor Parker pitched a perfect eighth inning and senior Mark Alexander came on for a 1-2-3 ninth inning, recording his sixth save of the year.
The shutout was the fourth for the Tigers this season, matching its season total from last year.
Missouri (25-16-1) will return to Taylor Stadium this weekend for a three-game series against No. 1 Texas. Game one of the series will get underway at 6:30 p.m. on Friday. All of Mizzou's games can be heard on the ZRG Radio Network (1580 KTGR in Columbia) Tex Little and Luke Cassis providing the commentary. The broadcasts can also be heard online www.KTGR.com.
