Box Score

Feb. 10, 2005

PHOENIX, Ariz. - - Mizzou Baseball opened up the 2005 season with an 8-3 win over Portland on a cool and damp first day of the Oakland A's Spring Training Tournament in Phoenix, Ariz. The Tigers have now won three straight season openers.

The Tigers got on the board with two runs on only one hit in the bottom of the second inning. Missouri was aided by four walks by Portland pitcher Given Kutz, who walked in both runs. The lone hit in the inning was a double by junior Greg O'Neill in his first plate appearance as a Tiger.

Missouri would add three more runs in the third inning as the first three Tiger batters reached base on hits. The biggest hit of the inning was a triple by sophomore Hunter Mense driving in sophomore John McKee who had a lead off single. Mense was 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored on Thursday.

Sophomore James Boone followed Mense, by singling to drive in McKee and would later score on a sacrifice fly by O'Neill.

O'Neill would come up big again in the fifth inning with a two-out RBI triple. He was 2-for-2 with two runs scored and a pair of RBI in his debut.

Mizzou would add a run in the seventh and scored once in the eighth inning.

Portland would get on the scoreboard in the seventh inning, scoring a run on two hits. It added two in the top of the ninth before junior pitcher Travis Wendte was able to finish off the game for the Tigers. Wendte made his return to the mound after missing the entire 2004 season recovering due to injury.

Senior Erik Dessau started for MU and recorded the win as he pitched six scoreless innings, giving up just three hits.

Junior transfers Doug Mathis and Andrew Johnston made their first appearances on the mound for Missouri as each pitched one inning on Thursday.

Mizzou is scheduled to return to Papago Park at 3 p.m. (4 p.m. CST) on Friday to face Oregon State. Due to the forecast of heavy rains on Friday in the Phoenix area, that game time may be moved up. Stay tuned to www.mutigers.com for any schedule changes.