@MizzouBaseball Claims Series-Opener vs. La Salle

Friday, March 9

Columbia, Mo.

6:30 p.m.

University of Missouri

11-3

La Salle

4-8

La Salle

Mizzou

3/9/2018 10:22:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Brumfield, Misner each tally three hits to back another strong start by Montes De Oca

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Junior CF Connor Brumfield (Columbia, Mo.) and sophomore 1B Kameron Misner (Poplar Bluff, Mo.) each contributed three hits in Mizzou's 8-5 win over La Salle Friday night at Taylor Stadium. The Tigers combined for 13 hits and had a season-high seven stolen bases to help RS junior RHP Bryce Montes De Oca (Lawrence, Kan.) to his third win this season. Mizzou has now won six straight games and moves to 11-3 on the season. La Salle drops to 4-8 on the year.

Montes De Oca had a no-hitter going in his fourth start of the season until the fifth inning when La Salle's Brian Tagoe doubled down the left field line, driving in two runs. Montes De Oca finished by pitching 6.0 innings, striking out 10 batters and giving up three runs on three hits. Junior RHP Nile Ball (Decatur, Ga.) recorded his third save of the season, pitching 1.1 innings without a run or hit. La Salle's Niko Jenkins tallied his second loss of the season in his 4.1 innings pitched.

TURNING POINT

La Salle scored their first two runs in the top of the fifth inning making the score 4-2. In the bottom of the inning, junior 3B Brian Sharp (Liberty, Mo.) started a rally and doubled down the left field line to respond, scoring Misner who had reached on a bunt. Sharp eventually made his way around the bases, scoring on a single by senior C Brett Bond (St. Louis, Mo.).

QUOTING MIZZOU

Head Coach Steve Bieser:
"It was a tough night to throw the ball. The ball was slick. Bryce had a little trouble there. When you walk two guys, eventually it is going to bight you – it hadn't bitten Bryce yet but the guy put a good swing on one and it drove in a couple of runs. I thought Anderson coming in from the bullpen threw the ball well. I was pleased with the way he threw the ball. Nolan allowed just a seeing eye single. Overall, I was happy with the way our guys threw the ball."

TOP TIGERS

RS Junior RHP Bryce Montes De Oca pitched 6.0 innings, striking out 10 and walking two. Dating back to last week, he had faced 39 batters in a row and went 11.1 innings consecutively without allowing a hit until La Salle's Brian Tagoe doubled in the fifth inning. He finished the sixth inning allowing three runs on three hits.
Sophomore 1B Kameron Misner had three hits and two RBIs, making it his fifth multi-hit game this season. It is his fourth multi-RBI game this season, a team-high.
Junior CF Connor Brumfield went 3-for-4 at the plate and scored three runs for the Tigers. This was the most hits in a game Brumfield has recorded this season since his four-hit performance vs. FIU (2/18/18)
Senior C Brett Bond tallied two hits and a RBI, logging his fourth multi-hit game this season.

NOTES

Mizzou now leads the all-time series with LaSalle, 1-0.
Mizzou improves to 4-0 in Fridays this season.
Mizzou is now 6-0 on the current homestand.
Mizzou scored in the first inning for the fifth straight game. Mizzou is 7-1 when scoring in the first inning this season.
Senior OF Trey Harris extended his hitting streak to six straight games with a first-inning single.
Junior INF Paul Gomez tallied his first career stolen base Friday.
Kameron Misner tallied his fifth multi-hit game this season on Friday.
Connor Brumfield tallied his second multi-hit game of the season. He turned in a three-hit game Friday, his most hits since a four-hit performance Sunday at FIU in the opening weekend of play.
Bryce Montes De Oca went 4.1 innings without a hit Friday, extending his streak to 11.1 innings without a hit, a span of 39 batters faced without a hit. Over his last two starts, he's gone 13.0 innings and allowed just three hits with 22 strikeouts and four walks.
Mizzou has a season-high seven stolen bases Friday.

UP NEXT

Mizzou and La Salle will close the three-game series tomorrow with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. For all the latest on Mizzou Baseball, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on Twitter (@MizzouBaseball) and like the team on Facebook (Mizzou Baseball) and Instagram (missouri_baseball).