March 14, 2010

Box Score |  Photo Gallery 

COLUMBIA, Mo.- - Missouri was unable to finish off a sweep of Xavier, dropping the final game of the series by a score of 5-1 on Sunday at Taylor Stadium.

The Tigers (7-6) managed just one run on three hits in Sunday's game. It marked their lowest run and hit totals since suffering a two-hit shutout to Baylor on April 19, 2009. The lone run scored by MU crossed the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning. Prior to the ninth, Mizzou had just one hit in the contest.

Xavier (2-12), which snapped a seven-game losing streak with Sunday's win, scored runs in the first and third innings, then added a three-run seventh to build a 5-0 lead.

The first batter of the game, Xavier's Drew Schmidt, reached on an error, advanced to second on a failed pick off attempt and then moved to third on a balk. He would score the game's first run on a double by Neil Lindgren.

Xavier added a run in the third inning, then scored three times in the seventh on three-consecutive RBI base hits, including two doubles.

Missouri's only hit through the first eight innings was a single by junior Brett Nicholas in the first inning. Xavier starting pitcher Jon Richard retired 15 of 18 batters at one point, including eight straight during that stretch.

After the first two batters for the Tigers in the ninth were retired, freshman Kale Gaden doubled and senior Michael Liberto walked. Sophomore Russell LaFleur followed with a single to drive in Gaden, to prevent the shutout.

Missouri will host North Dakota in a four-game series that will begin at 6 p.m. on Thursday at Taylor Stadium. The Thursday-Saturday series will include a Saturday doubleheader.