It was quite a series for Columbia native Connor Brumfield. The freshman banged out nine hits in four games against the Hofstra Pride, the most important of which came in the bottom of the 10th inning on Sunday.
With the score tied at two, freshman Brian Sharp drew a walk to start the tenth. Coach Tim Jamieson subbed out Sharp for sophomore pinch runner Johnny Balsamo, who advanced to second on a wild pitch. Freshman Ian Nelson bunted Balsamo to third, bringing Brumfield to the plate.
With a full count, Brumfield roped a single to right field to score Balsamo. The hit gave the Tigers a 3-2 walk-off win and a four-game sweep of Hofstra.
Young Missouri players were instrumental in the team win. Freshman pitcher Mike Plassmeyer started the game, allowing just two earned runs in six innings of work. It was only the St. Louis native’s second career start.
Junior shortstop Ryan Howard has been impressed with the attitude the Tigers’ freshmen bring to the team.
“It means a lot,” he said in the team’s press release. “I have so much confidence in these guys just seeing the work that they’ve put in going into this season.”
The Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth. With two outs in the inning, Howard singled to left. He quickly stole second and was driven home by junior Jake Ring’s base hit.
The Pride bounced back in the top of the seventh. After allowing two baserunners to start the inning, Plassmeyer was replaced by sophomore Cole Bartlett. Bartlett hit a batter, then allowed a single to tie the game.
With only one out in the inning and the bases loaded, Sharp was brought in to pitch. He allowed a sacrifice fly but minimized the damage, keeping the score at 2-1. The freshman ended up throwing three more innings for the Tigers and did not allow an earned run.
Sophomore Trey Harris tied the game in the bottom of the ninth with a sacrifice fly, sending the game to extra innings.
Brumfield’s game winning hit sent the Tigers home happy. The team ends its trip to Florida with a record of 7-2.
“I think we leave here a better baseball team than when we got here,” Jamieson said in the press release.
The Tigers will take on Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Wednesday for the first home game of the season.
_Edited by Alec Lewis | alewis@themaneater.com_