Mizzou Evens Series vs. Kentucky With 6-3 Win

Friday, May 15

Columbia, Mo.

6:05 PM

University of Missouri

29-25, 15-14

Kentucky

29-24, 13-15

Kentucky

Mizzou

5/15/2015 11:29:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Mizzou baseball evened its series with Kentucky on Friday night (May 15) with a 6-3 win, highlighted by a sensational start from freshman rightyTanner Houck (Collinsville, Ill.), who picked up his eighth win of the season. He was given the lead in the third inning as senior Jake Ivory (St. Charles, Mo.) - on his senior day - lifted a go-ahead, two-run homer over the wall in left to give Mizzou a lead it would not relinquish.

The Tigers also got a two-hit performance from Jake Ring (Ingleside, Ill.), who homered and tripled in the win. Mizzou goes to 29-24 on the season and 15-14 in SEC play while snapping a six-game skid. The win ensures the Tigers no less than a .500 record in SEC play.

Houck got into some trouble in the third inning, loading the bases with one out. He then induced a fielder's choice off the bat of JaVon Shelby, plating a run for Kentucky, staking the Wildcats to a 1-0 lead after 2.5 innings. But Mizzou answered in its half of the third on Ivory's Senior Day blast, a two-run shot off of UK starter Dustin Beggs over the wall in left. It was his fourth homer of the season.

Mizzou added to the lead on a two-out single by Zach Lavy (Auxvasse, Mo.) in the bottom of the fourth inning, scoring Ryan Howard (St. Charles, Mo.) who led off the frame with a double into the gap in left center. Kentucky got a run back in the top of the sixth on an RBI groundout by Storm Wilson. But Mizzou answered in its half of the sixth with a Jake Ring (Ingleside, Ill.) homer. It was his fourth of the season. Ring did it again in the eighth with an RBI triple, extending his team-leading extra-base hit total to 22. That made the score 5-2 and Mizzou added another run on an RBI single by Howard, giving Mizzou a 6-2 lead heading into the ninth.

After tossing a shutout eighth inning, junior closer Breckin Williams (Oronogo, Mo.) allowed a one-out, RBI double in the ninth, but that was all that UK could get off the Tiger closer, who picked up his school record 12th save of the season.

Game Notes

Tanner Houck won his eighth game of the season on Friday. It is the most wins in a single season by a Mizzou pitcher since Phil McCormick in 2011 (also had eight). It is the most by a Tiger starter since Kyle Gibson's 11 in 2009.
Junior closer Breckin Williams matched the school's single season saves record with his 12th on Saturday. He tied Ryan Stegall, who had 12 in 2000.

Coach's Corner
On tonight's win...
"It was a huge win. We played really well. It starts on the mound. Tanner (Houck) and Breckin (Williams) did a great job. We had lost too many in a row before tonight, and hopefully this turns us around again."

Jake Ivory
On his home run...
"The first pitch was a curveball and I laid off. The next pitch Coach Mense called a hit-and-run. I just wanted to swing hard and I got a hold of it."

On senior day...
"It was awesome. One home game left is bittersweet, but having my friends and family here to watch me one last time was awesome. It was great to get the win."

Tracking the Tigers
Mizzou will close the regular season Saturday at 1 p.m. against Kentucky. Junior Peter Fairbanks (4-4, 2.99 ERA) will get the start against UK's Kyle Cody (3-4, 5.49 ERA). The game will be on SEC Network+ and live on KTGR 100.5 FM/1580 AM in Columbia. For all the latest on Mizzou baseball, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on twitter @MizzouBaseball.