Fresh off a combined no-hit bid last night, the Missouri Tigers had no such luck shutting down the opposition on Saturday. However, Missouri still came out on the winning end of a 6-5, 13- inning thriller against the University of Maryland, Baltimore County Retrievers.
Junior lefty Michael Plassmeyer took the mound for the Tigers. The St. Louis native got off to a fast start, shutting down the Retriever bats for the first six innings, scattering just three hits and one walk over that span.
In the meantime, the Tigers scored in three of the first four innings and got out to a 4-0 lead.
First baseman Kameron Misner got the scoring started with a triple in the bottom of the first, good for one run batted in. Third baseman Brian Sharp was the next batter and drove Misner in with a sacrifice fly.
Catcher Brett Bond added a solo home run in the bottom of the third, and utility infielder Matt Berler added an RBI double in the next inning.
The Retriever bats started to get to Plassmeyer in the top of the seventh, however. After the first three batters reached base with one run in, head coach Steve Bieser went to the bullpen.
Sharp entered in relief and allowed two runs in two innings of work. He exited with the Tigers leading 4-3 after walking the leadoff batter in the top of the ninth.
TJ Sikkema was called on to shut the door, but couldn’t do so. The Retrievers pushed the tying run across with a sacrifice bunt and a single through the left side of the infield.
The Tigers were unable to score in the ninth, and the game went to extra innings.
After going stagnant for the second half of the first nine innings, the Tiger bats showed some life in extras, advancing runners to scoring position in the 10th and 11th innings to no avail.
Nile Ball entered the game for the Tigers and put up zeros in the 11th and 12th.
In the 13th, a two-out error allowed the Retrievers to take a 5-4 lead.
Needing a rally in the 13th to extend the game, Missouri infielders Chris Cornelius and Mark Vierling were both hit by pitches. A sacrifice bunt moved them both into scoring position. Trey Harris reached base on an infield single to tie the game at 5. Finally, Misner hit a walk-off single, sending the Tigers home happy and winners of the first two games of the weekend series.
The Tigers finish their three-game series against the Retrievers with a game Sunday at noon.
_Edited by Joe Noser | jnoser@themaneater.com_
