From Matt Puttin:
Missouri (24-21) (6-14 SEC) was able to bring out the brooms for the first time in SEC play this season as the Tigers defeated Tennessee (24-21) (6-15 SEC) 8-3 in Sunday’s series finale.
The SEC sweep was the second ever sweep earned by the Tigers in SEC play. Last year, the Tigers swept Georgia in Athens. Missouri went 4-0 this week and rides the four game winning streak into Tuesday’s game against Illinois in Sauget, IL at GCS Ballpark.
“It’s big for so many reasons,” Head Coach Tim Jamieson said. “The most important one is just the record overall and in addition coming into the week under .500 staring at Missouri State and three games against Tennessee, the season could go either direction. A lot of credit to our guys for recognizing that and playing probably the best week of baseball we have played in quite a while. It’s huge for us because now there is a lot more to play for.”
Freshman Michael Plassmeyer (4-4) earned his fourth win of the season tying him with Tanner Houck and Reggie McClain for the team lead. Plassmeyer worked five and one-third innings striking out four while allowing two earned runs on seven hits.
“I felt like I was commanding three pitches pretty well,” Plassmeyer said. “The change-up was a little low in the zone. Then we got a good lead and just kept it going and bounced back and got the win.”
Missouri trailed early as Tennessee got out to a 1-0 lead in the third inning. The Tigers answered in the bottom half of the fourth as freshman Ian Nelson (1-4, two RBIs) delivered a bases loaded two RBI single to right field scoring Trey Harris (1-3) and Brett Bond (2-4, run). Kirby McGuire (1-3, run RBI) hit a sacrifice fly to give the Tigers a 3-1 lead after four innings.
Zach Lavy (1-4, run, two RBIs) smashed his sixth home run of the season to right center in the bottom of the fifth. Lavy’s home run gives him his SEC-leading 30th extra base hit. Lavy has driven in 10 RBIs in his last five games and has reached base in 17 consecutive games.
Ryan Howard (2-5, run, two RBIs) added a two-run single in the sixth as part of a three-run inning giving the Tigers an 8-3 lead. Howard is beginning to heat up. Howard notched a hit for the fifth consecutive game, recording 10 hits in that span.
Cole Bartlett and Austin Tribby provided excellent bullpen work combining for three and two-thirds innings of shutout baseball. Will Neely (1-1) took the loss for the Volunteers.
Missouri (24-21) (6-14 SEC) was able to bring out the brooms for the first time in SEC play this season as the Tigers defeated Tennessee (24-21) (6-15 SEC) 8-3 in Sunday’s series finale.
The SEC sweep was the second ever sweep earned by the Tigers in SEC play. Last year, the Tigers swept Georgia in Athens. Missouri went 4-0 this week and rides the four game winning streak into Tuesday’s game against Illinois in Sauget, IL at GCS Ballpark.
“It’s big for so many reasons,” Head Coach Tim Jamieson said. “The most important one is just the record overall and in addition coming into the week under .500 staring at Missouri State and three games against Tennessee, the season could go either direction. A lot of credit to our guys for recognizing that and playing probably the best week of baseball we have played in quite a while. It’s huge for us because now there is a lot more to play for.”
Freshman Michael Plassmeyer (4-4) earned his fourth win of the season tying him with Tanner Houck and Reggie McClain for the team lead. Plassmeyer worked five and one-third innings striking out four while allowing two earned runs on seven hits.
“I felt like I was commanding three pitches pretty well,” Plassmeyer said. “The change-up was a little low in the zone. Then we got a good lead and just kept it going and bounced back and got the win.”
Missouri trailed early as Tennessee got out to a 1-0 lead in the third inning. The Tigers answered in the bottom half of the fourth as freshman Ian Nelson (1-4, two RBIs) delivered a bases loaded two RBI single to right field scoring Trey Harris (1-3) and Brett Bond (2-4, run). Kirby McGuire (1-3, run RBI) hit a sacrifice fly to give the Tigers a 3-1 lead after four innings.
Zach Lavy (1-4, run, two RBIs) smashed his sixth home run of the season to right center in the bottom of the fifth. Lavy’s home run gives him his SEC-leading 30th extra base hit. Lavy has driven in 10 RBIs in his last five games and has reached base in 17 consecutive games.
Ryan Howard (2-5, run, two RBIs) added a two-run single in the sixth as part of a three-run inning giving the Tigers an 8-3 lead. Howard is beginning to heat up. Howard notched a hit for the fifth consecutive game, recording 10 hits in that span.
Cole Bartlett and Austin Tribby provided excellent bullpen work combining for three and two-thirds innings of shutout baseball. Will Neely (1-1) took the loss for the Volunteers.
