@MizzouBaseball Tops Hofstra Behind Houck’s Complete Game

Saturday, February 27

Fort Myers, Fla.

12 p.m. (CST)

University of Missouri

5-2

Hofstra

0-5

Hofstra

Mizzou

@MizzouBaseball Tops Hofstra Behind Houck’s Complete Game

2/27/2016 2:38:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Mizzou Baseball took game one of a doubleheader against Hofstra, 8-0, on Saturday behind a gem thrown by sophomore righty Tanner Houck (Collinsville, Ill.). Houck allowed just three hits in a complete game shutout, his second career complete game and first complete game shutout. He struck out a career-high nine for the second consecutive start and walked just one batter. It was Mizzou's first complete game shutout since Feb. 20, 2015.

Sophomore Trey Harris (Powder Spring, Ga.) tallied a season-best three RBI to lead a Mizzou offense that pounded out 11 hits, the third consecutive game with 10+ hits for Mizzou. SS Ryan Howard (St. Charles, Mo.) also extended his hitting streak to seven games in the win. The win improves Mizzou to 5-2 on the year. The two teams will play game two of the doubleheader later Saturday.

Houck had a solid first inning, retiring the side on 14 pitches (11 strikes) with a strikeout looking and two 6-3 groundouts. After Houck worked around a two-out double in the second, Mizzou's offense came to life as three consecutive hits culminated with a two-run double by Harris.

The line kept moving in the second as the first five players tallied hits in the inning. Shane Benes (Town & Country, Mo.) tallied an RBI single on a blast up the middle and Connor Brumfield (Columbia, Mo.) added another RBI single following a sacrifice bunt by Ian Nelson (Lake St. Louis, Mo.). That gave Houck a 4-0 lead.

Houck came back out in the third and retired the side in order, needing just 35 pitches to get through three innings of work. Mizzou added another run on a Harris sacrifice fly to take a 5-0 lead after three innings. A sacrifice fly for Jake Ring (Ingleside, Ill.) and a bases loaded walk by Brett Bond (St. Louis, Mo.) added two more runs for Mizzou in the fourth inning.

Houck continued to baffle Hofstra hitters, allowing just one hit through five innings. Mizzou tacked on another run in the fifth on Howard's single and Houck shut the door from there.

Game two of the doubleheader will be played later Saturday afternoon. Senior LHP Austin Tribby (Springfield, Mo.) will get the start for Mizzou. For all the latest on Mizzou Baseball, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on Twitter @MizzouBaseball and like the team on Facebook and Instagram (Mizzou Baseball).

Postgame Notes

Mizzou now leads the all-time series with Hofstra, 2-0.
The win was Mizzou's second shutout of the season and first since opening day.
RHP Tanner Houck turned in his second career complete game, allowing just three hits while striking out a career-high nine batters against just one walk. It was Mizzou's first complete-game shutout since Reggie McClain tossed one on Feb. 20, 2015, against Sam Houston State.
Houck and Reggie McClain have thrown back-to-back complete games to open the series with Hofstra. The two are a combined 4-0 this season with just one earned run allowed in 32 innings pitched with a 29-6 strikeout-walk ratio. The have allowed just 23 hits over the 32 innings.
Mizzou has tallied 10+ hits in three consecutive games after Saturday's game-one win.
Junior SS Ryan Howard extended his hitting streak to seven games with an RBI single in the fifth inning.
Mizzou's freshmen in the lineup continue to be productive since Wednesday's midweek game at FIU. Since that game, the freshman trio of 2B Ian Nelson, OF Connor Brumfield and INF Brian Sharp have gone a combined 15-for-32 with nine runs, 13 RBI and seven walks. In the opening weekend, the trio was just 2-for-21 with two runs and three walks.
Sophomore OF Trey Harris tallied a season-high three RBI on in game one of the doubleheader, two coming on his first extra-base hit of the season, a double in the second inning.
Nelson tallied his first career double in the fourth inning.
3B Shane Benes tallied his second multi-hit game of the season and tallied his first double of the season in the fifth inning.
C Brett Bond has reached base safely in every game this season after going 1-for-3 with a pair of walks.