CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Mizzou Baseball (4-2) closed its stay at the 2020 Kleberg Bank College Classic Sunday with its second consecutive victory. After falling behind 4-0 through three innings of play, the Tigers responded with eight unanswered runs and walked away with an 8-4 triumph over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
The Tigers used a pair of big innings at the plate to clinch their comeback win. Mizzou recorded five runs on four hits in the fourth inning, while pushing across three runs on four hits in the seventh inning.
Sophomore Andrew Vail and freshman Spencer Miles were electric out of the bullpen Sunday, limiting the Islanders to four hits and zero runs over 7.0 innings pitched. Vail earned his first career Tiger victory, while Miles produced his first career save.
#ShowMe Top Performers
- Vail: (W) 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
- Miles: (SV) 4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
- Brandt Belk: 2-for-3, 2 RBI, BB
- Jackson Lancaster: 1-for-2, R, 2 RBI
- Josh Holt Jr.: 1-for-3, R, RBI, SB
- Cameron Swanger: 1-for-2, R, 3 BB
Coach Bieser Postgame Soundbites
On Sunday’s victory over the Islanders…
“It obviously got started a little slow for us. They jumped all over our starter today. We gave up nine hits, but managed to only allow four runs and kept us a chance. It was a great answer by our offense in the fourth inning”
On the offense’s adjustment in the middle part of the game…
“We knew we were facing their best pitcher. It was frustrating in the second inning where they were able to work around that bases loaded jam. I knew our guys would come back and get things going. We just needed to keep attacking their starter and get into their bullpen.”
On the Tigers’ bullpen excellent performance…
“They did an outstanding job. Andrew (Vail) was really good. Then Spencer (Miles) came in and put the finishing touches on the game. They were both outstanding.”
#MIZ Takeaways
- Mizzou’s offense came alive Sunday, producing double-digit hits for the fourth time this season.
- The Tigers’ bats produced in key situations, highlighted by .421 (8-for-19) average with runners on base and .714 (5-for-7) average with a runner on third and less than two outs.
- Lancaster earned his first career RBI as a Tiger following a two-run single in the fourth inning.
- Freshmen Eric Rinzel and Ty Wilmsmeyer made their Mizzou debuts after earning pinch hit opportunities in the ninth inning.
- Belk was dynamite for the Tiger offense this weekend, hitting .500 (5-for-10) with one double, one home run and four RBI. He hit safely in all three games at Whataburger Field, capped off by multi-hit efforts Saturday and Sunday.
Up Next
Mizzou is slated for one final day in Corpus Christi, Texas, as it will travel to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi’s campus Monday (Feb. 24) afternoon. The Tigers and Islanders will meet at 3 p.m. CT.
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