University of Missouri
Nebraska
Mizzou Takes 11-Inning Victory in Big 12 Opener
3/23/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 23, 2007
LINCOLN, Neb.-- - Mizzou won its Big 12 Conference opener for the third-straight season, taking a 5-1 victory in 11 innings over Nebraska on Friday afternoon. The Tigers scored four times in the top of the 11th to extend their winning streak to 13 games and snap a seven-game losing skid against Nebraska.
The Tigers (19-5, 1-0) did all their damage in the 11th with two outs in the inning. With the bases loaded, freshman Trevor Coleman singled through the right side to drive in a pair of runs, breaking a 1-1 tie. Coleman's single was the first of four-straight batters to reach safely, including RBI singles from junior Jacob Priday and freshman Aaron Senne.
"Our guys really hung in there today," Head Coach Tim Jamieson said. "There were several momentum swings in this game and that really tested our guys. It was good to see us late in the game hang in there and then do what we needed to do to get things done."
Coleman, who was 2-for-5 on the day, scored the game's first run in the top of the fifth inning. He led off the inning with a double. Then, as he attempted to take third base on a wild pitch, the throw from Nebraska catcher Mitch Abeita was wide of third base, allowing Coleman to score on the error.
The first Nebraska hit off Mizzou starter Aaron Crow came did not come until two outs into the bottom of the fifth inning when Craig Corriston singled. Corriston singled again in the seventh inning, this time driving in Jeff Tezak to tie the score at one.
Crow did not factor in the decision, leaving after the eighth inning with the scored tied at one. He allowed just one run on four hits and struck out five. The eight innings is his longest outing of the season for Crow and the second longest of his career. He has pitched at least seven innings in four of his last five starts for the Tigers.
Freshman Kyle Gibson came on to pitch the final three innings, striking out three and allowing just one hit. He took the victory to move to 3-2 on the season. Gibson has recorded the win or a save in each of his last seven appearances.
Missouri and Nebraska three-game series will continue with at 1 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday in Lincoln.
