It took three tries, but on Sunday the Missouri baseball (11-17, 4-8 Southeastern Conference) finally prevailed with its first SEC series victory with a win over Georgia (12-21, 2-10 SEC).
Sunday’s 8-5 rubber game win for the Tigers was decided in the top of the final frame. Senior outfielder Dane Opel smashed a three-run triple to right field to put Missouri ahead for the victory.
Opel went two for four on the day with two runs and three RBIs, boosting his average to .330, which is second best on the team. Opel has reached base safely in his last 21 games.
Junior relief pitcher Keaton Steele shut down Bulldog hitters, going seven-plus innings strong, striking out nine and safely retiring his last 15 batters. The nine-strikeout outing led to his team-leading third win of the season.
Steele, who was named SEC pitcher of the week, contributed at the plate as well with a three-for-five performance and a run scored. With 52 at bats this season, Steele has swatted a .308 clip with a homerun and 12 RBIs.
He entered the game in relief for freshman flamethrower Alec Rash, who let go three runs after recording a mere four outs.
Missouri climbed out of a 5-0 hole in the fourth, pounding Bulldog starter Jared Walsh for three runs. Junior catcher Dylan Kelly, sophomore Jake Ivory and junior Kendall Keeton grabbed an RBI apiece in the inning, as the Tigers strung together four hits in the early rally.
Kelly currently leads the team in average, batting .347 with one round-tripper and 17 RBIs.
Missouri narrowed the lead to one run in the eighth after sophomore Logan Pearson stroked a single to center and stole second. Keeton then scored Pearson on another single to center.
That eighth inning tally set up the ninth inning, four-run rally for the Tigers victory.
On Friday, Missouri beat UGA 4-0 with a stellar performance from junior Rob Zastryzny, who struck out four in his second complete game of the season. Overall, Zastryzny has a 2.88 ERA with 42 strikeouts and 13 walks.
The two wins on Friday and Sunday improved Missouri’s road record to 3-9.
The Tigers will take on in-state rival Missouri State (19-8, 4-2 Missouri Valley Conference) today at 6:30 p.m. in Springfield.
The Tigers lead the all-time series, 23-22, and are projected to send sophomore Jace James to the hill, who paces the team with a 1.76 ERA.
