COLUMIBA, Mo. ? Despite yet another late inning push, the CSUB baseball team ran into an offensively efficient Missouri squad Saturday, falling 4-2 at Taylor Stadium. The No. 14 nationally ranked Tigers scored four runs on a pair of two-RBI singles to improve to 31-23 on the season.
Bakersfield (11-33) had seven hits in the game, and also drew six walks from the Mizzou pitching staff, but left 11 total runners on base and was unable to take advantage of a bases-loaded, zero-out sixth inning, scoring just one run in the frame.
Mizzou took a 2-0 lead in the third courtesy of a Garrison McLagan single to left, Michael Liberto single to right, an Austin Holt sacrifice bunt and a Ryan Lollis two-RBI single up the middle.
In the fifth, the Tigers pushed two more across the plate, stretching their lead to 4-0. Holt reached on a hit by pitch, advanced to second on a Greg Folgia single to left and moved to third on an Aaron Senne walk. With the bases loaded, and just one out on the board, Kyle Mach singled through the left side, sending Holt and Folgia home. Bakersfield's defense quickly ended the Tiger rally on the next play, turning a 4-6-3 double play on a ground ball hit by Steve Gray.
The Roadrunners got one run back in the sixth, loading the bases with a Kyle Richardson walk, a Brandon Boren single up the middle and a Jeremy Rodriguez single to right. Jason Kudlock then hit a fielder's choice to shortstop Liberto who fumbled the ball trying to make the play at second as Richardson crossed home plate. Bakersfield was unable to add to the rally, however, as Richard Escalera struck out swinging and Mick Gaston grounded out to short to end the inning.
Looking for a late inning rally, Rodriguez and Martin Medina drew back-to-back walks to open the eighth, but advanced no further around the bases as Jason Kudlock flied out to right field and Escalera and Gaston both struck out swinging.
In the ninth, Richardson drew a two-out walk, Boren followed with a single through the left side and Rodriguez reached on a full-count walk to load the bases once again. Richardson scored on a wild pitch to cut the spread to 4-2, but closer Brad Buehler got Medina to strike out swinging for the final out of the game.
Freshman Spenser Messmore (2-3) tossed the second complete game of his young career, issuing three strikeouts along with two walks and eight hits in eight innings.
Boren and Gaston had two hits each, while Stuart Smith and Rodriguez had Bakersfield's other two hits.
Mizzou starting pitcher Scooter Hicks (5-2) struck out a pair, walked one and allowed two hits in four innings. Nick Tepesch went 3 1/3, striking out two, walking three and scattering four hits for one run. Phil McCormick struck out the two batters he faced in the eighth and Buehler closed out the final inning with two strikeouts, two walks and one hit allowed.
CSUB and Mizzou will conclude their shortened series Sunday at 1 p.m. at Taylor Stadium.
Score by Innings R H E
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CSU Bakersfield..... 000 001 001 - 2 7 0
Missouri............ 002 020 00X - 4 8 1
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Win - Hicks (5-2). Loss - Messmore (2-3). Save - Buehler (6).
E - Liberto(12). DP - CSUB 1. LOB - CSUB 11; Missouri 7. 2B - Mach, K.(13). HBP - Holt; Ampleman. SH - Holt(4). SB - Richardson(6). CS - Mills(3).
