University of Missouri
Michigan State
No. 6 Missouri Holds Off Michigan State
2/23/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 23, 2008
DeLAND, Fla.-- - The sixth-ranked Missouri baseball team moved to 2-0 on the season with a 14-9 win over Michigan State on day two of the Stetson Invitational in DeLand, Fla. Senior Jacob Priday had a hand in six of the Tigers' runs, scoring three times and driving in three.
Sophomore Greg Folgia also drove in three runs on Saturday, finishing 2-for-5 on the day, including his first career triple. Missouri was out-hit by MSU in the game, but drew 10 walks and was hit by a pitch six times.
The Tigers jumped on Michigan State early, scoring four runs without a hit in the top of the first inning, chasing MSU starting pitcher Mark Sorensen from the game after just five batters. Sorensen walked four and hit one batter before being replaced by Scott Heitshusen. In the inning, the Tigers drew five walks and had one hit batter.
Folgia delivered a two-out triple off the right field wall in the top of the third inning to drive in Priday, extending the Tigers' lead to 5-0.
Michigan State scored a run in the third inning on a two-out double by A.J. Shindler then added a pair of runs on a base hit by Evan Eckerle in the fourth.
Missouri then put together a six-run fifth inning, starting with a double by junior Steve Gray. He was followed by Folgia, who singled to drive in his third run of the game. Priday also had an RBI hit in the fifth, driving in two on a two-out single.
The Spartans cut into the lead with a three-run bottom of the sixth inning, but MU responded by scoring a pair of runs in the top of the seventh. Sophomore Aaron Senne had an RBI double and junior Ryan Lollis drove in a run with a two-out single.
Michigan State continued to mount a comeback, scoring three run in the bottom of the eighth inning to cut the Mizzou lead to four at 13-9. All three runs in the eighth were unearned as a pair of errors by the Tigers aided the Spartans on the three runs.
Missouri tacked on a run in the ninth, as Gray singled to drive in Priday.
Junior Rick Zagone struck out seven in four innings of work in his first start of the year. He allowed three runs on six hits before the Tigers went to the bullpen. Junior Ryan Gargano pitched 1.1 innings in relief and picked up the win, while junior Scooter Hicks recorded his first save of the season and the seventh of his career, pitching the final 1.1 innings.
The Tigers will wrap up play in the Stetson Invitational on Sunday, taking on the host-school Stetson at 4 p.m. ET (3 p.m. CT). Sophomore Kyle Gibson is the probable starter for Missouri.
