@MizzouBaseball Walked Off by South Carolina in Sunday Pitcher’s Duel

Sunday, May 13

Columbia, S.C.

12:30 p.m. (CT)

University of Missouri

31-20, 10-17

South Carolina

30-21, 15-12

Missouri

South Carolina

@MizzouBaseball Walked Off by South Carolina in Sunday Pitcher’s Duel

5/13/2018 3:32:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Junior lefty Tyler LaPlante was dominant over 8.0 innings, but gave up a walk-off HR on the first pitch in ninth

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Mizzou junior lefty Tyler LaPlante turned in 8.0 shutout innings but South Carolina's Carlos Cortes hit a walk-off solo homer on the first pitch in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Gamecocks claimed a 1-0 win Sunday at Founder's Park. The walk-off win for the Gamecocks clinched the weekend series as Mizzou falls to 31-20 and 10-17 in SEC play.

LaPlante struck out a career-high eight and allowed just the one run on five hits with only one walk in a tough-luck loss as he falls to 4-3 on the year. Carolina's Eddie Demaruis earned the win, improving to 5-0 after throwing the final 2.0 innings.

Mizzou had its chances in the game, stranding seven runners. The Tigers also lost a run at the plate in the first inning.

TURNING POINT

Mizzou had a chance to take an early 1-0 lead, getting a pair of men on in the first inning. Five-hole hitter senior 3B Alex Samples roped a single into right field, but a strong throw from Gamecock RF Cortes gunned a sprinting Brian Sharp at the plate for the third out in the inning. Both LaPlante and Carolina starter Cody Morris then engaged in a pitcher's duel until, each pitcher throwing up zero after zero.

The stalemate was finally broken in the bottom of the ninth as Cortes roped a solo homer to right field on the first pitch of the frame.

TOP TIGERS

Junior 1B Brian Sharp walked to lead off the game. He has reached base safely in 12 straight contests this season. He added an eighth-inning single as he hit safely in all three games over the weekend.
Junior lefty Tyler LaPlante was tremendous in his ninth start of the season Sunday. He tossed 8.0 innings, allowing just five hits with a walk while matching his career-high with eight strikeouts. He threw more than 100 pitches for the second time in a Mizzou uniform. He threw a career-high 113 pitches on a 95-degree day.

NOTES

Mizzou now trails the all-time series with South Carolina, 13-7.
Mizzou falls to 3-5 on Sundays
Mizzou falls to 18-18 in three-game series this season and 2-4 in SEC rubber games.

UP NEXT

Mizzou opens its finale homestand of the season Tuesday with a 6 p.m. start vs. Indiana State on SEC Network 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).