May 5, 2006
COLUMBIA, Mo.-- - A pair of three-run homers for Mizzou helped the Tigers to a 12-1 win in the opener of a three-game series with Mississippi Valley State on Friday night at Taylor Stadium. Senior Derek Chambers had a pair of homers and sophomore Jacob Priday matched his total from last season with his ninth home run of the season in the victory.
Junior Nathan Culp won his third-straight start and improved to 9-4 on the season. The nine wins are tied for the most victories in the Big 12 Conference and matches Culp's win total from a year ago. It also ties Culp for seventh in the Mizzou record books for wins in a season.
Culp struck out five, allowing one run on four hits in six innings on the mound. The only run allowed on the night came in the sixth inning, snapping a string of 17 scoreless innings pitched by Culp, dating back to the sixth inning of his start against Oklahoma State on April 21.
Missouri (23-21) put together a pair of four-run innings, the first coming in the third inning. With the Tigers already leading 1-0, Chambers hit his first home run of the night, a three-run shot to give MU a four-run lead.
He added a second homer, his third of the season, with a two-run shot in the seventh inning, finishing with a career-high five RBI.
Priday hit his team-leading ninth home run of the year in the fifth inning to equal his total from last season.
Senior Zane Taylor and freshman Ryan Lollis each turned in three-hit ballgames, which matched a career-best for Lollis.
The Tigers' bullpen was also strong, as redshirt freshman Brant Combs, senior Nick Admire and freshman David Cales combined for three-shutout innings, allowing just one hit to the Delta Devils.
The series with Mississippi Valley State (23-28) will continue at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Taylor Stadium. All MU games can be heard on KTGR 1580-AM in Columbia and at KTGR.com. Live stats are also available on mutigers.com and Live Video will be available through Mizzou All-Access on mutigers.com.