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COLUMBIA, Mo. – The University of Missouri baseball team rode another dominant offensive performance to a 17-2 rout of Lindenwood in seven innings, opening its 2023 home season with its fourth-straight victory Tuesday afternoon at Taylor Stadium.
The Tigers’ offense logged a season-best seven-run rally to seize control of the contest in the second, then put the game out of reach with a six-run outburst in the fourth. As a team, Missouri (6-2) collected 11 hits to the Lions’ five and swiped a season-high four stolen bases.
Mizzou’s freshman hurler Nic Smith (1-0) enjoyed a strong collegiate debut on the mound, allowed just one hit in 3.0 innings of work to earn the victory.
Preseason All-SEC pick Luke Mann led the Tigers’ early explosion, connecting on a three-run home run to highlight the second-inning rally, while fellow Mizzou infielders Trevor Austin and Hank Zeisler each drove in two runs apiece. Ty Wilmsmeyer drove in three runs, while Mann scored three times in addition to producing three RBIs.
Missouri’s bats made their impact early, with Ross Lovich starting the second inning with a double to left field that sent Zeisler to third base. Zeisler took advantage of a wild pitch to trot home and put the Tigers on the board. Wilmsmeyer drew one of 13 walks handed out by Lindenwood hurlers, before Dylan Leach was hit by a pitch. A Lions error sent both Ross Lovich and Wilmsmeyer home for Missouri. Mann then smacked a three-run home run to left to double the advantage to 6-0. Austin capped the rally with the first of his two sacrifice flies in the game, bringing in Cam Chick with the seventh run of the inning.
After a third straight shutout inning from Smith, Mizzou added two more runs in the third. Austin plated a runner with a sacrifice to center and a passed ball later brought home the ninth Tigers run of the afternoon.
The Lions (2-6) got on the board in the top of the fourth, using a two-run homer to left by Brett Bowers to score their only runs of the game.
Mizzou left no doubt about the outcome with its six-run fourth. Six of the Tigers first seven hitters reached base via a walk or hit batter, with Dalton Bargo and Ross Lovich each bringing in runners with sac flies, before Wilmsmeyer drove in a run with a base hit to left. Leach added a run-scoring single to help Mizzou push its lead to 13 runs.
Two more runs followed in the fifth via Wilmsmeyer’s two-out, two-run double. The senior also pitched 2.0 scoreless innings of relief, before Jacob Hasty made his Tiger debut with a hitless seventh that included a pair of strikeouts to close out the run-rule victory.
TIGER NOTEBOOK
- Missouri moved to 3-0 all-time against Lindenwood.
- Wilmsmeyer extended his career-best, 11-game hit streak with a 2-for-3 effort at the plate.
- Mizzou’s seven-run, second-inning rally represented its highest-scoring inning this season and its best since May 21, 2022 at Georgia.
- The Tigers scored 15+ runs for the first time since April 30, 2022 vs. Mississippi State.
- Mizzou recorded four stolen bases for the first time since April 26, 2019 vs. South Carolina.
- The Tigers had a season high five batters hit by a pitch.
- Mizzou’s 13 walks marked a 2023 single-game high and its best total since March 6, 2022 vs. Tarleton State.
- The Tigers loaded the bases six times vs. Lindenwood.
- Mizzou hit .364 (4-for-11) with two outs and .421 (8-for-19) with runners on base.
UP NEXT
Mizzou opens a three-game series against Texas Southern Friday (March 3) at Taylor Stadium. Single-game tickets for the 2023 season are on sale now and can be purchased by calling 1-800-CAT-PAWS, or by visiting MUTigers.com/feature/BSBTix.
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