October 19, 1998
COLUMBIA, Mo.- If one recalls the final game of the 1998 season for the Missouri Tigers, this story may sound familiar. With the Tigers trailing big to Oklahoma State after 3 2/3 innings, Head Coach Tim Jamieson called on All-Big 12 closer Chris George to hurl long innings and keep the Tigers in the game. All George did in that Big 12 Tournament game was pitch 6 1/3 innings and allow just one run on three hits.
Missouri's Fall World Series Classic isn't exactly the Big 12 Tournament, but on Monday night, MU assistant coach Evan Pratte called on George in the fifth inning with his team trailing 5-1. George pitched the final five innings and held the Bengals scoreless on just two hits. Meanwhile, the Tigers rallied for three runs in the sixth inning and two in the bottom of the eighth for a 6-5 World Series clinching victory. Freshman Ryan Stegall suffered the loss for the Bengals.
The Bengals took advantage of two walks and an error in the top of the second innning off of Tigers starter Seth Wright to take a 1-0 lead, their first lead of the series. Two more Tiger errors and a balk led to the Bengals second run in the third inning. A double by Matt Meinert of the Tigers scored Luke Cassis with the first Tigers run to cut the lead to 2-1 after three innings.
Wright ran into problems in the fourth inning. Mick Weiss and J.R. Warner reached on consecutive singles for the Bengals. Then, redshirt freshman Matt Bremehr came through with a big two-run triple to give the Bengals a 4-1 lead. A Reid Warner sacrifice fly scored Bremehr for the third run of the inning.
Bengals starter Ryan Jamison, pitching on three days rest, pitched very well for the Bengals. He struck out nine in just six innings of work, but the sixth inning proved to be big for the Tigers. Jamison loaded the bases by giving up a hit and two walks. Following a big strikeout, junior Ryan Pickett came through with a huge three-run triple into the right field corner to cut the Bengals lead to 5-4.
After freshman All-American Logan Dale retired the side in order in the seventh inning, the Tigers got to freshman Ryan Stegall in the eighth. Dustin Barnes and Aaron Wilson reached on back-to-back singles putting runners on first and third. Stegall then uncorked a wild pitch bringing Barnes home with the tying run. After Jake Epstein reached on an error, Stegall retired the next batter. Pickett then came up again and delivered with a sacrifice fly that scored Wilson to give the Tigers the lead. It was Pickett's 10th RBI of the series.