In baseball and every other sport, an obvious, fundamental concept rules the game and reeks with John Madden-like undertones: the team that scores the most wins the game.

In order to score, one has to get on base, and no one on the Tiger’s baseball team has been better at doing just that than junior outfielder Brannon Champagne.

In the team’s series versus Kansas State this past weekend at Taylor Stadium, Champagne batted .500, scored twice and secured a game-winning walk in game two. He has now reached base safely in 30 consecutive games.

“My goal every game is to get on base two to three times every game,” Champagne said. “That’s just the type of player I am. My job is to get on base and score runs.”

Slotted in the two-spot, Champagne has been the lone Tiger not to be shuffled around in the order throughout the course of the season. Coach Tim Jamieson said Champagne brings a level of consistency that benefits the team when their big bats are walking to the plate.

“He knows that’s his job and he’s good at it,” Jamieson said. “It’s something that, when you get people on base you get chances to score runs. Particularly where he is in the order, he’s on base ahead of our best hitters, he gives us better chances to score runs.”

During a roller coaster of a season for Missouri’s offense, Champagne has proven he can be a player the team can count on. He’s been a player who can get on base in a variety of ways, such as in game two versus Kansas State, a game that the Tigers tied late in the ninth.

With the bases loaded and two outs, Champagne walked up to the plate. He fell behind the count early but battled back to earn a full count. In front of a jam-packed Taylor Stadium and with the game on the line, Champagne watched as the 3-2 pitch came in and a ball was called and the winning run walked to the plate. The run sealed the team’s first sweep of a conference opponent since 2010.

“Any way you get the win is always nice,” Champagne said. “You want to hit and you want to be aggressive but you also have to keep the same mindset and be patient.”

Champagne’s streak of reaching base in 30 straight games is the second-longest active streak in the Big 12, a feat Jamieson said is a result of all of Champagne’s attributes.

“He’s a mature hitter and he knows the strike zone,” Jamieson said. “When you do that you’re going to walk. He doesn’t strike out very much, he puts the ball in play and he’s a good runner. All those attributes lend themselves to have an opportunity to do that.”

Reaching base in 30 consecutive games is an impressive feat, but Jamieson held out from giving Champagne all the credit.

“There’s going to be a little luck involved in there as well,” he said, smiling.