@MizzouBaseball Downed by South Carolina in SEC Tournament Opener

Tuesday, May 22

Hoover, Ala.

8 p.m.

University of Missouri

34-22

South Carolina

33-22

Mizzou

South Carolina

@MizzouBaseball Downed by South Carolina in SEC Tournament Opener

5/23/2018 1:31:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

Three-run seventh inning eliminates Tigers from SEC Tournament

HOOVER, Ala. – No. 12 seeded Mizzou Baseball dropped its SEC Tournament opener to fifth-seeded South Carolina, 4-2, Tuesday night into Wednesday morning at Hoover Met Stadium. Mizzou took a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning, but Carolina sent nine men to the plate and scored three runs in the frame to take a lead that it did not surrender.

Mizzou falls to 34-22 on the year while South Carolina improves to 33-22 and moves on to the double elimination portion of the bracket. Senior RHP Andy Toelken was charged with the loss after allowing three runs on four hits over 2.2 innings. He was outstanding through his first 2.1 innings, but Carolina got to him in the seventh inning. It was the first time he has factored into a losing decision since he moved to the bullpen as he has been tremendous for Mizzou all season in that role (16 appearances).

TURNING POINT

Mizzou got its offense going in the third inning after South Carolina starter Carmen Mlodzinski retired the first nine batters he faced. Junior CF Connor Brumfield singled to lead off the inning and RF Trey Harris beat the shift as the first two Mizzou batters reached. After a wild pitch, Brian Sharp hit an RBI groundout and Chad McDaniel added an RBI single as Mizzou grabbed a 2-0 lead. It could have been more, but senior C Brett Bond hit into an inning-ending double play with runners on the corners and one out.

After Mizzou starter T.J. Sikkema breezed through the first four innings, he ran into trouble in the fifth, allowing three straight hits – a double, a single and double – as Carolina cut the lead to 2-1. Head coach Steve Bieser then went to the bullpen for senior RHP Andy Toelken. Inheriting a second and third, no out spot, Toelken pitched out of the jam unscathed while preserving Mizzou's 2-1 lead.

Carolina then manufactured two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, loading the bases with one out. Carlos Cortes then drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the game and DH Madison Stokes hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly to give the Gamecocks a 3-2 lead. Carolina tacked on one more to put the game away.

TOP TIGERS

Sophomore LHP T.J. Sikkema pitched 4.0+ innings and allowed just one run on six hits in start on short rest.
Junior 1B Brian Sharp tallied an RBI and walked in the sixth inning as he has now reached base in 17 straight games, his second-longest streak this season. He added his ninth double in the eighth inning, tying him for the team lead.
Freshman DH Chad McDaniel tallied an RBI single in the top of the fourth inning.
Senior 2B Matt Berler walked twice Tuesday while playing in his hometown.

QUOTING MIZZOU

Head Coach Steve Bieser
"Just really tough for us to get anything going consistently offensively. We had the one inning that we were able to punch a couple runs across. Our pitching battled, our defense was right there with it. Really tight ball game here tonight and we just couldn't find enough opportunities to score some runs."

NOTES

Mizzou falls to 2-7 in SEC Tournament play and 1-3 in the league tournament under second-year head coach Steve Bieser.
Mizzou falls to 26-28 in conference tournaments since 1997.
Mizzou falls to 7-1 on Tuesdays this season.
Mizzou now trails the all-time series with South Carolina, 14-7
Teams seeded 12^th in the SEC Tournament are now 0-6 and Mizzou is now 0-2 as the No. 12 seed in the SEC Tournament.
Tuesday's game was the second-latest game ever at the SEC Tournament. Alabama vs. Kentucky in 2008 started at 10:45 p.m. and that is the only game to start later. It was just the seventh game in SEC Tournament history to finish past 1 a.m. (CT).
Mizzou falls to 25-10 in night games and 0-1 in games started at night that finished in the morning.

UP NEXT

Mizzou, still with a strong RPI and other great marks on its NCAA Tournament résumé, hopes for an NCAA Regional berth when the field of 64 is unveiled Monday. 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 (Mizzou Baseball) and Instagram (missouri_baseball).