Missouri knocked off Illinois-Chicago 10–5 in the second game of a home doubleheader Saturday.

Senior Austin Tribby was the winning pitcher for the Tigers, and an offensive explosion helped the team secure its 10th victory of 2016.

Tribby got off to a rocky start. He walked the first Flames batter he faced and hit the second. A Ricardo Ramirez triple brought home both runners, giving UIC an early 2–0 lead.

Luckily for the home team, the Tigers’ bats came to life in the bottom half of the frame. Freshman Connor Brumfield and junior Ryan Howard singled to start the Missouri attack. Junior Jake Ring followed with a walk, and sophomore Shane Benes knocked in two runs with a single.

With the score tied, the Tigers kept their foot on the gas pedal. Freshman Brian Sharp singled in Ring, giving the Tigers a 3–2 lead. Benes scored on a groundout by senior Zach Lavy, and sophomore Trey Harris drove in Sharp with a sacrifice fly. The Tigers suddenly found themselves with a 5–2 lead.

“I didn’t have my best stuff today, but my fielders and batters picked me up,” Tribby said. “All the credit goes to them.”

The Flames got a run back in the top of the second. Tribby allowed two singles, and a wild pitch scored UIC’s Wyatt Mascarella.

The Tiger bats exploded again in the fourth inning. Brumfield drew a walk, and Howard followed with a single. Ring then ripped a triple down the right field line, clearing the bases and giving Missouri a 7–3 lead.

Ring was thrown out at home on a fielder’s choice, but Sharp and Lavy both reached to load the bases. This brought Harris to the plate.

On the first pitch he saw, Harris roped a double into left field, clearing the bases. The two-bagger gave the Tigers a 10–3 lead.

“I just went up there and had fun,” he said. “My day was a struggle for the most part … he gave me a good pitch, and (I) got lucky and hit it down the line.”

UIC scored in both the fifth and sixth, cutting the Tiger lead to five.

Tribby was removed with two outs in the sixth inning. He finished the day with seven strikeouts, allowing five earned runs.

Going forward, the Missouri starter has specific things he hopes to improve on.

“My front side was flying off a little bit,” Tribby said. “I had pretty good command of my curveball early and late, but … 96 pitches in 5 2/3 (innings), that’s way too many.”

Sophomore Cole Bartlett, Tribby’s replacement, shut down the Flames for the rest of the evening. He threw 3 1/3 innings of scoreless ball, striking out a batter.

Coach Tim Jamieson said he was happy with Bartlett’s showing, especially because it allowed him to save other bullpen pitchers for the final game of the series.

“For him to be able to finish the game and do it pretty efficiently, it was big for us,” he said. “It helped us win today and helps us for tomorrow, too.”

The victory improved Missouri’s record to 10–3. UIC is now 4–6.

The Tigers are back in action against UIC at 1 p.m. Sunday. Freshman Mike Plassmeyer is expected to start for Missouri.