Blake Holovach is used to waiting. The Missouri junior started the 2012 season in the bullpen before moving into Missouri’s starting rotation, so he’s well-accustomed to sitting around extensively, then being summoned to the mound and having to bring his best stuff.
Even though he’s now solidly a member of the Tigers’ starting rotation, the experience helped Holovach in Saturday’s afternoon matchup with High Point at Taylor Stadium. He threw a complete-game shutout, the first by a Missouri pitcher since Kyle Gibson did it against Kansas State in 2009, to down the Panthers 4-0 and win the Tigers (12-5) their 10th straight.
The wait in question came when the game’s start time was pushed back from 2 p.m. to 3:45 p.m., courtesy of a system of storms hovering around Columbia. After multiple removals and re-applications of the tarp, Holovach finally took the mound.
“I’ll tell you what, (having relief experience) did help in that rain delay today, waiting around,” he said.
Given how he threw Saturday, Missouri would probably be completely fine with having every one of Holovach’s starts come after delays. The lefty carved up High Point hitters with great efficiency, making it through eight innings with fewer than 100 pitches and ending up with 115 for the day. A significant reason for his efficiency was how he pitched to contact, striking out just four batters.
“Whenever I threw the fastball in or down the middle, really, they would put a good swing on it,” he said. “I can’t give enough credit to my defense today.”
It looked as if Holovach might get pulled after putting two runners on with two outs in the ninth inning, but he induced a fly out from the last batter to lock up his third win of the year.
The Tiger hitters provided an ample cushion for their starter. A single from junior designated hitter Dane Opel in the third inning and ensuing error on the right fielder drove senior third baseman Conner Mach home for the first run of the game.
Missouri added three more runs in the next two innings from two home runs. Senior catcher Ben Turner hit a solo shot that just cleared the left-field fence and junior right fielder Blake Brown cranked an inside fastball far over the left-field bullpen. Turner’s home run was the first of his career.
“I don’t really remember the last time I hit a home run,” Turner said. “It was good to finally get one and get this guy off my back,” he said, gesturing to Brown and laughing.
The Tigers enter tomorrow’s game, their last one against High Point, with an opportunity to earn a third straight series sweep. With their 10-game winning streak also in progress, the team’s mood is decidedly upbeat.
“(There’s) a lot of energy, and just a lot of positive energy,” Brown said. “Last year, with the bad start we had, it was very negative. You’d get in the locker room after the game and everybody would just be moping around. Now, we get in there, blare our music as loud as we can, everybody’s dancing around for a good 20 minutes … it’s just positive energy and a lot of confidence going around.”
