@MizzouBaseball Falls at No. 12 South Carolina, 5-1

Saturday, April 23

Columbia, S.C.

3 p.m. (CST)

University of Missouri

20-20, 4-13

South Carolina

32-8, 13-4

Mizzou

South Carolina

4/23/2016 5:39:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Mizzou Baseball dropped game two of its series at No. 12 South Carolina, 5-1, on Saturday afternoon at Founders Park. Mizzou starter Tanner Houck (Collinsville, Ill.) was tagged with the loss despite turning in a quality start, allowing just six hits over 6.0 innings while being charged with three runs (two earned) with five strikeouts and two walks. Carolina's Braden Webb earned the win as he improved to 8-2 on the year.

The loss drops the Tigers to 20-20 overall and 4-13 in SEC play while South Carolina goes to 32-8 and 13-4 in SEC play. Offensively, Mizzou was led by CF Jake Ring (Ingleside, Ill.), who had a pair of hits and an RBI. Senior 1B Zach Lavy (Auxvasse, Mo.) had his career-long 11-game hitting streak snapped but he did walk and was hit by a pitch as he has reached base safely now in 12 straight games.

After Webb struck out the side in the first inning, Houck came out and struggled, allowing the first five South Carolina batters to reach base. Alex Desitno delivered a bases-loaded single through the right side to plate a pair, but Houck minimized the damage after that, getting a 1-2 fielder's choice and a pair of strikeouts to get through the inning.

After knocking in a pair of runs, Destino then made a diving catch in left to rob extra bases from OF Trey Harris (Powder Springs, Ga.). That turned out to be a big out as Brett Bond (St. Louis, Mo.) singled in the next at-bat as the play likely saved a run. Bond has now hit safely in five consecutive games. RF Kirby McGuire (Round Rock, Texas) also walked in the frame and he has now reached base safely in a team-long 15 consecutive games.

Houck had to pitch out of trouble again in the second as the first two Gamecock batters reached base a walk and hit batter. But he got a flyout, a strikeout and 1-3 bounce out to get out of the inning. Jonah Bride then doubled to lead off the third inning and scored on a passed ball to give South Carolina a 3-0 lead after three innings.

Mizzou finally got to Webb in the top of the fifth inning as he walked a pair to bring up Ring who singled through the right side for his second hit of the day and an RBI, cutting into the lead. After Webb walked the bases loaded, Lavy flew out to center to strand the bases loaded.

The Tigers threatened to get more in the sixth inning, putting two men aboard with two outs, but Shane Benes (Town & Country, Mo.) struck out to strand a pair. Mizzou left eight runners on base through the first six innings as South Carolina carried a 3-1 lead into the seventh.

Mizzou stranded two more runners in the seventh inning on a tremendous play in the right centerfield gap by CF Dom Thompson-Williams as he went down to his shoelaces for a catch on a sinking line drive by Harris, which likely would have been extra-bases and runs for Mizzou.

RHP Cole Bartlett (Williamsburg, Ind.) then relieved Houck in the bottom of the seventh. South Carolina added two unearned runs off of Bartlett on a single to right center by Destino, who drove in four of South Carolina's five runs on Saturday. That put the game out of reach for Mizzou.

Mizzou and South Carolina will play game three of their series tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. (CT) at Founder Park. The game will air live on SEC Network+. For all the latest on all things Mizzou Baseball, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on twitter @MizzouBaseball and like the team on Facebook and Instagram (Mizzou Baseball).

Hear From Mizzou
Head Coach Tim Jamieson

Opening Statement…
"Well we had a tough start. Their side pitched really well and we didn't match it with Tanner coming out in the first inning. He did a great job getting through six innings. We didn't have a lot of opportunities. I thought Trey had a really good at-bat and the outfielder was in really good position. If that ball drops we are right back in the game."

Postgame Notes

Mizzou now trails the all-time series with South Carolina, 8-4, and Mizzou has never won in Columbia (East).
Mizzou falls to 5-9 on Saturdays this season
Senior 1B Zach Lavy had a career-long 11-game hitting streak snapped but did walk once and was hit by a pitch as he has now reached base safely in 12 straight games.
RF Kirby McGuire drew a two-out walk in the second inning, extending his streak to 15 games in which he has reached base safely. That tied the longest streak by a Tiger this season.
C Brett Bond singled in the second inning to extend his hitting streak to five consecutive games.
CF Jake Ring turned in his 14^th multi-hit game this season on Saturday.