COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri designated hitter Fox Leum launched two home runs to power the Tigers to a 9-3 win over Southeast Missouri on Tuesday night at Taylor Stadium.
Leum’s two homers garnered the cleanup man four RBI to lead the Tigers at the plate. Trevor Austin finished 2-for-4 with a home run as well, guiding Mizzou (25-17) to a 9-1 record in non-conference games at home this season.
On the mound, the Mizzou pitching staff racked up 13 strikeouts to quiet a potent SEMO (30-13) lineup. Christian Wall started with four solid innings of work, the lone blemish a two-run homer, while striking out six. Jacob Kush (3-0) picked up the win with two innings of relief work, allowing a single run while striking out three. Austin Cheeley earned his fifth save of the season, closing out the game with two scoreless innings.
IMPACT INNING
Patience was a virtue as the Tigers manufactured a pair of runs on just one single in the second inning. Tre Morris got the frame rolling with a one-out single before Ross Lovich was hit-by-pitch to put two aboard. A walk to Justin Colon loaded the bases for the black & gold which was followed by a pair of RBI hit-by-pitches for Ty Wilmsmeyer and Nander De Sedas. The Tigers took the 2-0 lead and never looked back, controlling the game from start to finish for the win.
TOP TIGERS
Fox Leum: 2-for-5, 2 HR, 4 RBI
Trevor Austin: 2-for-4, HR, RBI, R
Christian Wall: 4.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 6 K
IN THE NOTES
- Cheeley earned the save as the Tigers honored his late uncle, coach Brian DeLunas, on the pitching coach’s birthday. DeLunas’ family was in attendance to throw out the first pitch.
- Austin extended his hitting streak to 13 games with his two-hit night.
- Leum’s two homers were his seventh and eighth of the season.
- Mizzou batters were hit-by-pitch five times, matching the Tigers’ season high.
- Nathan Landry made his return to the mound, striking out the side in a perfect inning of work.
- Mizzou’s 13 strikeouts were the most since March 25 against Arkansas, also a 13 K performance.
FROM THE SKIP
Coach Bieser on the midweek victory…
“We just found a way to get it done. It definitely felt like a lot closer game, we were able to open up there in the last inning but very tight. We knew our pitching was kind of limited tonight and had to be really good on the mound and those guys were really good. They allowed us to stay in this game and continue to pop some runs across the board.”
UP NEXT
Mizzou heads to Ole Miss for a three-game SEC set beginning Friday night on SEC Network +.
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