University of Missouri
British Columbia (Exh.)
Mizzou Baseball Opens 2004 with Exhibition Win
2/12/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 12, 2004
PHOENIX, Ariz.-- - The Missouri baseball team took the field for the first time in 2004 as it recorded an 8-3 win over British Columbia in an exhibition game at the Rawlings/Oakland A's Spring Training Tournament in Phoenix, Ariz.
The game gave Missouri the opportunity to get on the field against another team before its season opener on Friday. MU was also able to get several players into the game to gain valuable game experience.
After a scoreless first inning, Mizzou put three runs on the board in the top of the second inning. The first three Tigers in the second reached base as they put together a three-run inning. Junior College transfer 3B Cosme Caballero walked, senior 1B Cody Ehlers singled and senior OF Ryan Rallo was hit by a pitch. All three later scored in the inning with the help of a pair of wild pitches by British Columbia and a sacrifice fly by Tiger sophomore Tyler Williams.
The Tigers made it a 4-0 lead in the sixth inning as Caballero tripled and was driven in as Rallo connected for a triple of his own.
BC cut the Mizzou lead to one with three runs on five hits in the bottom of the seventh inning.
The Tigers answered with a run in the eighth, as Ehlers scored on a double by sophomore OF Josiah Holst, and added three more runs in the ninth. Sophomore SS Zane Taylor, freshman OF Hunter Mense, Ehlers and junior OF Bo Davis all had hits in the ninth. Ehlers' double to left drove in two and Davis had a pinch-hit single which drove in MU's final run of the game.
Ehlers finished 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Taylor also had two hits for the Tigers.
The Tigers starter, sophomore RHP Nick Admire, faced the minimum in three innings of work. Admire gave up no hits, struck out one, walked one and forced BC to hit into two double plays.
Freshman LHP Nathan Culp followed Admire on the hill for Mizzou and struck out the first two batters he faced looking. He pitched two innings of no-hit ball, striking out three.
"We did a lot of things well today," Mizzou Head Coach Tim Jamieson said. "It was good to get out and play on the field and play someone else. We know that this one doesn't count, but we still want to go out there, play well and come away with the win."
Mizzou will open up the regular season on Friday against Nevada at 8 p.m. CST. That game, along with all of the Tigers' games this season can be heard on the ZRG Radio Network (KTGR 1580 AM in Columbia) with Tex Little and Luke Cassis calling the action.
