COLUMBIA, Mo. - Sophomore shortstop Ryan Howard (St. Charles, Mo.) put an exclamation point on Mizzou's (22-11, 8-4) 5-3 victory over No. 4 Florida (24-9, 6-6), launching a three-run bomb into the bullpen in left in the fifth inning and giving the Tigers the decisive four-run cushion on Sunday afternoon (April 5) at Taylor Stadium. The win gave Mizzou a series victory over a top-five opponent for the first time since beating No. 5 Nebraska in 2008. Mizzou allowed only 20 hits over the weekend set, the fewest amount of hits in a three-game set for Florida this season.

Peter Fairbanks (St. Louis, Mo.) got the start for the Tigers on the mound, tossing five innings of two-hit, one-run ball, earning his third win of the season. Freshman Alex Del Rio (Munster, Ind.) drove in the first run of the day for the Tigers, a single up the middle to tie the game at one by scoring Zach Lavy (Auxvasse, Mo.). Brett Peel (St. Charles, Mo.) also drove in a run in the contest and extended his on-base streak to 30 games, two short of the school record.

For the first time in the series it was the Gators that scored first, with Josh Tobias stroking a homer to right-center, a solo shot for a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Teams traded scoreless innings through the fifth, with Fairbanks holding the deficit to a manageable one run.

Lavy's second hit of the day opened up the fifth, a double to left center, and Del Rio's single to center with one out knotted up the game at one run apiece. Case Munson (St. Charles, Mo.) then singled to left, and a bunt single from Peel brought Del Rio in to score for a 2-1 Mizzou lead. Howard followed with a three-run shot to the bullpen in left, claiming a 5-1 edge through five innings.

Andrew Schwaab (St. Charles, Mo.) replaced Fairbanks in the sixth inning, tossing two scoreless innings to preserve the four-run cushion into the game's home stretch. Schwaab tallied a career-best four strikeouts in his two innings of work. Breckin Williams (Oronogo, Mo.) took over in the eighth inning, allowing two runs in the ninth but sealing the winning weekend for Mizzou.

Mizzou hits the road to take on the Tennessee Volunteers this weekend, a Thursday-to-Saturday series against the conference foe. For all the latest on Mizzou baseball, follow the team on Twitter (@MizzouBaseball) or check in to MUTigers.com.