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COLUMBIA, Mo. – Alabama powered up to hit three home runs as part of a four-run sixth inning that erased a two-run Missouri lead and ultimately paved the way to a 6-4 Crimson Tide victory in the first contest of the two clubs’ three-game Southeastern Conference series Friday evening at Taylor Stadium.
Crimson Tide catcher Dominic Tamez led the way with a career-best 4-for-5 night at the plate, including a home run to lead off UA’s pivotal sixth inning that answered a two-run rally in the Mizzou fifth that handed the home club a 3-1 lead.
Moments after Tamez’s fifth home run of the season cleared the wall in center, Andrew Pinckney followed with a solo shot that crept inside the right-field foul pole for the game-tying round-tripper. Following a walk to Ed Johnson, Jaxson West delivered the go-ahead blast—a two-run homer that gave the Tide a 5-3 advantage.
Missouri (23-14, 5-11 SEC) answered on Dylan Leach’s third home run of the season with one out in the home half of the sixth, momentarily slicing the margin to one run.
But Tamez came through again with one out in the seventh, driving a double into the left-field corner to spark another UA threat. With two out Colby Shelton lined a run-scoring double to left to chase home the sixth Crimson Tide (27-12, 7-9 SEC) tally.
From there, the duo of Hagan Banks (1-0) and Alton Davis II kept the Tigers in check, combining 5.0 solid innings of relief to close out the game. Banks (1-0) earned the win, striking out three and allowing just the Leach home run over 2 2/3 innings, before Davis turned out the lights with 2 1/3 innings of one-hit relief for the save.
Mizzou never seriously threatened after plating a pair of unearned runs in the fifth, courtesy of three Tide errors. After a Cam Chick single started the rally, back-to-back miscues plated a run on Ty Wilmsmeyer’s chopper to the right side to hand the Tigers a 2-1 lead. Next, Trevor Austin came through with a two-out single to bring in Wilmsmeyer, who swiped second for his 16th steal of the season, then moved to third on an errant throw.
Tigers starter Chandler Murphy delivered a strong outing, despite UA scratching out an unearned first-inning run on a dropped fly ball and a Tommy Seidl grounder to seize the early lead.
MU responded in the home half of the first, using Wilmsmeyer’s leadoff single as a springboard to the equalizing rally. Luke Mann reached on a fielder’s choice, moved to third on walks to Austin and Hank Zeisler, then trotted home on a wild pitch.
Austin led Mizzou at the plate, going 1-for-3 with an RBI and a walk, while Zeisler drew a pair of free passes.
Murphy completed 5.1 innings allowing just two earned runs on five hits, while fanning five batters.
TIGER NOTEBOOK
- The Tigers lost for just the fourth time in 17 home games at Taylor Stadium this season
- Mizzou dropped its fifth straight meeting with Alabama dating back to 2018, falling to 7-10 all-time vs. the Crimson Tide
- Zeisler drew his team-leading 32nd and 33rd walks of the season
- Mizzou fell in an SEC series opener for the fifth consecutive weekend, falling to 3-7 in weekend series opening contests this season
- Leach extended his streak of reaching base safely to 11 consecutive games with his sixth-inning homer
- Tonight’s announced attendance of 1,934 marked the 11th different home crowd—and the Tigers’ seventh in a row—of 1,000 or more spectators in Mizzou’s 14 home dates this season
UP NEXT
Mizzou and Alabama continue their series Saturday (April 22) with a 5 p.m. (CDT) contest that will be televised live on the SEC Network. Single-game tickets for Saturday’s game — and all Mizzou baseball home games in 2023 — 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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