Feb. 21, 2010
TUCSON, Ariz.- - Mizzou came from behind on Saturday and scored 17 runs to pick up its first victory of the 2010 season. Missouri (1-1) trailed 6-2 at one point and was behind 6-4 before scoring 13 runs between the eighth and ninth innings on its way to a 17-6 win over Washington on day two of the Collegiate Cactus Classic in Tucson, Ariz.
"It was a very productive night in a lot of areas," Head Coach Tim Jamieson said. "We came from behind when it didn't look too good for us, but we found a way to get it done. It was good to be able to start some different guys tonight and have them come through big. That's a positive sign of things to come."
Washington (1-1) scored the game's first runs, plating two in the bottom of the second inning. The 2-0 lead was short-lived as Mizzou put two runs on the board in the top of the third inning. Freshman Dane Opel opened the Tigers' half of the third inning with a single in his first collegiate at-bat. Junior Jesse Santo followed by drawing a walk, then senior Michael Liberto doubled to drive in both runners.
The Huskies regained the lead with a two-run bottom of the third and scored two runs in the fourth inning, their third-straight two-run frame.
Opel led off the fifth inning with a triple and scored on a sacrifice fly by Santo. Liberto then singled, recording his sixth hit of the season, and scored later in the inning to pull the Tigers to within two runs.
Mizzou gained its first lead of the 2010 season by scoring four runs in the top of the seventh inning. The Tigers had four hits in the inning, which was capped off with a two-run home run by senior Aaron Senne. The home run by Senne was the 27th of his career, which ranks 12th in school history. His next homer will move him into the top-10 on the MU career home runs list.
The Tigers then put up nine runs in the eighth inning. MU had six hits in the eighth, had two batters hit by a pitch, drew two walks and had a Husky error. Senne had a two-run single in the eighth and sophomore Conner Mach drove in a run with a double.
The nine runs in the inning were the most Missouri has scored in an innings since putting nine runs on the board in the second inning against Minnesota last April 8. The Tigers won that game 20-5.
Opel was 4-for-5 in his debut as a Tiger. He scored four runs and drove in one. Another freshman Brannon Champagne, also got his first start of his career and finished 2-for-4.
Liberto was 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. In the two games this year, Liberto is 7-for-9 with a double, a triple, three RBI and four runs scored.
Junior Zack Hardoin, a transfer from Blinn College, pitched a scoreless inning of relief to earn the win. Juniors Tyler Clark and Kelly Fick and sophomore Jeff Emens also turned in one scoreless inning each out of the bullpen.
Mizzou will be back on the field just 10 hours after the completion of Saturday's game. The schedule for the final day of the Collegiate Cactus Classic has been adjusted due to the weather. The Tigers will take on New Mexico State at 11 a.m. CT on Sunday in their final game of the weekend.