COLUMBIA, Mo. - Team Gold's pitching led the way to the team's second consecutive win, as they held Black to just two hits and one run over the game's final eight frames in a 5-3 win on Thursday night (Oct. 16) at Taylor Stadium. Alec Rash (Adel, Iowa) was strong in his start, throwing seven innings of two-run baseball, striking out nine and retiring 13 of the final 14 batters that he faced. Austin Tribby (Springfield, Mo.) and Andrew Schwaab (St. Charles, Mo.) each pitched one inning as the Gold squad sealed the victory.
Ryan Howard (St. Charles, Mo.) hit his third home run in four fall games, a bomb to left-center field to draw even at one run apiece in the first inning and continue his strong fall. Josh Lester (Columbus, Ga.) hit his first dinger of the fall series, sending a fly ball over the pitch clock in right center for a 3-2 lead in the third inning. Jake Ring (Ingleside, Ill.) reached base four times in the contest for Gold.
The Gold team took advantage of mistakes from Lee in the first inning, taking advantage of four pitches that went to the backstop and allowed Lester to make his way around the bases after a walk, taking a 1-0 lead. Black responded immediately though, taking advantage of Howard's third home run of the fall and a two-out RBI single for Jake Ivory (St. Charles, Mo.) to take a 2-1 lead after the game's opening frame.
Gold regained the lead in the third, taking advantage of a leadoff single from Jerry Houston (Dolton, Ill.) as Lester hit a shot over the wall in right center, claiming a 3-2 edge. They then had a prime opportunity to build the lead with bases loaded and no outs in the fourth, cashing in for two runs to push the difference to 5-2.
Rash settled in over that stretch, retiring 13 of 14 hitters he faced over a span that ended in the bottom of the sixth inning. Gold again threatened in the seventh off Liam Carter (Highland Park, Ill.), as it put its first two hitters on base. They were held off the board though after a strikeout, caught stealing and a groundout diffused the threat.
Lake Dabney (Driftwood, Texas) took over in the seventh inning for Rash, tossing a scoreless frame to start his night on the bump. Gold once again changed pitchers in the eighth, throwing Tribby into action, striking out two of the three batters he faced in the inning. Team Black countered with Breckin Williams (Oronogo, Mo.), who struck out the side in the ninth. Schwaab pitched for Team Gold in the ninth, allowing two hits and one run but getting the save.
Game Two of this weekend's set will take place Friday night (Oct. 17) at 6. For all the latest on Mizzou baseball, follow the team on Twitter (@MizzouBaseball) or check in to MUTigers.com.