Feb. 6, 2003
WILMINGTON, N.C. - Four home runs and an outstanding opening-day performance on the mound by sophomore Justin James have paced the Missouri baseball team to an 11-1 lead through 5-1/2 innings in its season-opener at UNC-Wilmington on Thursday. Rain has suspended play in the middle of the sixth, which is where the teams are currently scheduled to resume play on Friday at 2 p.m.
Jeremy Hernandez hit a pair of two-run homers -- one each in the 4th and 5th innings -- and Ryan Rallo and James Boone also sent pitches out of Brooks Field in the Tigers' earliest start in school history.
James settled down after allowing a leadoff homer to Chip Grawey, holding the Seahawks to just a double in the bottom of the third.
Garrett Broshuis is scheduled to pitch game two on Friday against righty Ronald Hill.
More on the game to come shortly.