Feb. 26, 2010

Box Score

AUBURN, Ala.- - Mizzou claimed its third-straight win with a 4-2 victory over Florida Atlantic in the opener of the Auburn Classic on Friday in Auburn, Ala. In the first ever meeting between the two teams, the Tigers scored all of their runs in the first and last innings of the game.

Missouri (3-1) put the first runs of the game on the board with two runs in the top of the first inning. Freshman Brannon Champagne led off the game with a single and later scored on a base hit by junior Brett Nicholas. Nicholas would cross the plate when senior Aaron Senne doubled to drive in his fifth run on the year.

Champagne was on base three times in the game, as he went 2-for-3 and was hit by a pitch. He also added a stolen base, but was injured on his slide into second base and had to leave the game.

FAU's Andy Mee led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a home run to cut the Tigers' lead in half.

Missouri, with the 2-1 lead, scored a pair of insurance runs in the top of the ninth inning on just one hit. There was a hit-by-pitch, a walk, a balk, two wild pitches and two stolen bases in the inning. The only hit was by sophomore Russell LaFleur, who was in the game replacing an injured Champagne. LaFleur delivered a two-out single through the left side.

Freshman Eric Anderson was impressive in his first start as a Tiger, pitching five scoreless innings. He allowed four hits, struck out five to earn the win.

Juniors Zack Hardoin and Tyler Clark kept their respective season ERAs at 0.00, as each turned in a scoreless inning of work in relief as they were two of four relievers who saw action on Friday.

Sophomore Jeff Emens allowed one run in the ninth inning, but earned the save, his first of the year and the first save of the season by the Tigers.

The Auburn Classic will continue on Saturday as Missouri will face the host school, Auburn. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. at Hitchcock Field.