October 15, 1998

Columbia, Mo.- Senior left-hander Justin Stine struck out nine batters in 7 2/3 innings while junior Ryan Pickett slammed the door with a three-run home run in the top of the ninth inning to give the Missouri Tigers a 1-0 lead over the Missouri Bengals in the University of Missouri's intersquad Fall World Series. Game two takes place Friday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. at Simmons Field.

The Tigers took a 1-0 lead off of junior Ryan Jamison in the second inning. Mitch Kiler reached on a fielder's choice and stole second. With two out, Pickett, a junior-college transfer from Napa College in California, singled home Kiler. Pickett went 2-for-4 on the day with 4 RBI.

The Tigers added a second run in the fourth inning. Aaron Wilson doubled to lead off the inning and was singled home by freshman Mike Thompson.

Stine's only blemish on the mound occured in the sixth inning when freshman Ryan Stegall sailed a solo home run over the center field wall to make it a 2-1 game. The Tigers called on First Team All-Big 12 closer Chris George with two outs in the eighth inning to relieve Stine. George retired all four batters he faced, striking out two. The Tigers received some insurance on Pickett's three-run homer off of the left field foul pole in the top of the ninth inning.

Ryan Jamison suffered the loss for the Bengals despite striking out eight batters in eight innings of work. Jamison allowed two earned runs on five hits, while walking four.