Mizzou Pitching Dominates in Series Opening Win Against ISU

Friday, March 12

Normal, Ill.

6 PM

University of Missouri

5-9

Illinois State

4-7

Missouri

Illinois State

Mizzou Pitching Dominates in Series Opening Win Against ISU

3/12/2021 10:40:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (March 12, 2021)

The Tigers put up a seven-spot in the ninth to rally past the Redbirds

NORMAL, Ill. – Mizzou Baseball (5-9) took the first game of the series against Illinois State, 7-0, Friday night in Normal. The Tigers exploded in the ninth inning for seven runs to support a dominant pitching performance. The shutout marks the first for the program since 2019.

Sophomore Spencer Miles held the Redbirds to only two hits in his career performance. The Columbia native threw a career-long seven shutout innings while matching his career mark with six strikeouts. His outing was backed by junior Jacob Kush and sophomore Shane Wilhelm, who combined for the final two hitless frames.

The Tigers were locked in a pitchers' duel until the ninth when, after back-to-back singles from seniors Mark Vierling and Brandt Belk, a sacrifice bunt from junior Joshua Day forced an error that plated the first run of the game.

With runners on first and second and one out in the inning, Mizzou opened the game up courtesy of an RBI double from senior Jackson Lancaster and a two-run single from sophomore Torin Montgomery. Junior Mike Coletta finished the scoring on the night, cracking a bases-clearing, three-run double into the gap.

#ShowMe Top Performers

Spencer Miles: 7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 6 K, 2 BB
Mark Vierling: 2-for-5, 1 R, K
Jackson Lancaster: 1-for-1, 2B, RBI
Mike Coletta: 1-for-4, 2B, 3 RBI

Hear from the Skipper

Head coach Steve Bieser on the team finishing strong…

"We messed up a couple times in the middle innings, but we were able to bounce back. Team got a little momentum off of Kush throwing the ball well in the eighth and carried that into the ninth."

#MIZ Takeaways

Sophomore Spencer Miles was dominant in his fourth start of the season, throwing a career-long seven innings and fanning six batters for the second time this season.
Sophomore Shane Wilhelm made his collegiate debut in the ninth inning, being called on to retire the final two batters.
Seniors Chad McDaniel and Mark Vierling both tallied multi-hit games for the fourth and fifth times this season, respectively.
Junior Joshua Day continued finding his way on base in the opener against the Redbirds, being hit by a pitch and reaching on an error. Day has reached based in each of the 13 games he appeared in this season.
Mizzou shut out the Redbirds on Friday, for the first shutout thrown by the Tigers staff since April 27, 2019 against South Carolina. That game, TJ Sikemma struck out 10 over seven innings while the Mizzou offense flourished, taking the matchup 11-0.

Up Next

Mizzou Baseball will play a Saturday doubleheader against the Redbirds, with the first game tabbed for 3:30 p.m. CT. The second game of the set will begin following the conclusion of the first game and will be shown on ESPN3 and ESPN+.

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