University of Missouri
26-14, 12-6
Alabama
20-18, 7-11
No. 18 Tigers Move Into First in SEC East With Series Win Over Alabama
4/18/2015 10:26:00 AM | Baseball
COLUMBIA, Mo. - No. 18 Mizzou (26-14, 12-6) took advantage of strong pitching performances from Tanner Houck (Collinsville, Ill.) and Andrew Schwaab (St. Charles, Mo.), both pitchers of record, as the Tigers split Saturday's (April 18) double header with Alabama (20-18, 7-11). Houck tallied eight strikeouts but was charged with the loss in his start, and Schwaab claimed the win in Game Two with 3.1 scoreless innings of work.
After getting shut out in game one, the Tiger offense exploded for four homers in the series finale. Three of those bombs came in the fourth inning, including back-to-back jacks by Jake Ring (Ingleside, Ill.) and Ryan Howard (St. Charles, Mo.). Trey Harris (Powder Springs, Ga.) hit the third solo homer of the inning, and Josh Lester(Columbus, Ga.) stroked a two-run, go-ahead shot to right in the sixth for the 5-3 final score. The win in the series finale drew Mizzou to a tie with No. 4 Vanderbilt for first place in the SEC East.
Houck cruised through the first five frames of game one, allowing only two hits and striking out six batters. Alabama struck in the sixth as Casey Hughston came through with a two-run shot to right to claim a 2-0 lead.
The Tigers had a chance to draw even with Shane Benes (St. Louis, Mo.) and Jack Klages (St. Louis, Mo.) in scoring position with one out in the seventh, but they were left stranded. Austin Tribby (Springfield, Mo.) took over for Houck in the bottom of the frame, and he surrendered two solo homers to boost the Tiger deficit to 4-0. Bryce Montes De Oca (Lawrence, Ks.) entered in the ninth, allowing two runs before giving way to Jace James (Oklahoma City, Okla.) who finished off the game.
Alabama again jumped on top in the second game with a three-run third, the product of three two-out RBI singles for the early edge. The Tigers tied it an inning later. Ring, Howard and Harris all homered in a span of four batters to draw even. Schwaab took over for Peter Fairbanks (St. Louis, Mo.) in the fifth with two outs and runners on the corners, but he was able to hold Alabama off the board.
Lester gave the Tigers a lead in the sixth, a two-run shot to right that was the Tigers' fourth home run of the game, to take a 5-3 lead, and Schwaab and Breckin Williams(Oronogo, Mo.) combined to preserve the win.
Mizzou hosts Missouri State on Tuesday (April 21) at 6 p.m. then head to Vanderbilt for a critical series for first place in the SEC East.
Post-Game Notes
- Tanner Houck now has three games with eight or more strikeouts on the season.
- Freshman Shane Benes recorded three hits in his collegiate debut, cleared for game action today after recovering from a torn ACL.
- Benes and Ryan Howard combined for five of the Tigers' six hits in game one of the double header.
- Jack Klages laced his sixth double of the season in game one, tying him for third on the team.
- Klages's double extended his on-base stretch to 11 of 12 games, though he did not reach base in the second game.
- Alabama Game Two starter Geoffrey Bramblett had allowed four homers all season before allowing four to Mizzou.
- Three of the four Tiger homers came in a four-batter stretch in the fourth inning of Game Two. It was the second time this season and second time in a week that Mizzou went back-to-back, with Ring and Howard doing so on Saturday.
- The series win for the Tigers was their fifth conference win of the season, matching the total from their first two SEC years.
- Breckin Williams moved into a tie with Mark Alexander (2004) for second all-time for Mizzou in single-season saves with 10.
- Mizzou moves into a tie with No. 4 Vanderbilt for first place in the SEC East at 12-6 in conference.
- Mizzou is now 13-2 in games in which is homers.
- Mizzou is also now 9-1 in doubleheaders this season and 12-2 on Saturdays.
Coach's Corner:
Head Coach Tim Jamieson on the doubleheader...
"We found a way. This is a pretty resilient group. The second game today reminded me a lot of game two in Tennessee where we got behind, seemed flat, and found a way to get back in the game."
On the play of the bullpen in game two...
"(Schwaab) really was (superb). That's what gave us a chance to get the game. He deserves all the credit, because he's the one who had to shut them down. He doesn't get the save, I think he may have gotten the win. But that was good to see Breckin Williams doing what he is capable of doing. He filled it up, had good stuff, and didn't get any good swings against him."
On the power surge offensively in the second game...
"We've seen it. We've seen it on the weekends. We have some guys who, where we get some mistakes (can take advantage). We got a little bit of help from Mother Nature. All of those balls probably would've been out anyway but it was warm and wind blowing out."
On another SEC series win...
"12-and-6 at this stage of the season, we get to go to Vanderbilt and play for first place."
Tracking the Tigers:
For all the latest on Mizzou baseball, check in to MUTigers.com or follow the team on Twitter @MizzouBaseball.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Schwaab, Andrew (2-0)
L: Geoffrey Bramblett (5-2)
S: Williams, Breckin (10)
Batting:
RBI: Casey Hughston 1 ; Kyle Overstreet 1 ; Cody Henry 1
SH: Chandler Avant 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Mikey White 1 ; Casey Hughston 1 ; Chance Vincent 1
SB: Chandler Avant 1 ; Mikey White 1
HBP: Mikey White 1 ; Chance Vincent 1
Batting:
HR: Ring, Jake 1 ; Howard, Ryan 1 ; Lester, Josh 1 ; Harris, Trey 1
RBI: Ring, Jake 1 ; Howard, Ryan 1 ; Lester, Josh 2 ; Harris, Trey 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ring, Jake 1 ; Howard, Ryan 2 ; Lester, Josh 1 ; Harris, Trey 1
SB: Lavy, Zach 1
CS: Howard, Ryan 1
HBP: Munson, Case 1
