(Photo Credit: Mizzou Baseball)
The Missouri Tigers baseball team came out victorious Tuesday in the opening round of the SEC Tournament over the South Carolina Gamecocks. Reggie McClain pitched seven strong innings before Breckin Williams came in to clean up and give the Tigers a 5-1 victory.
Shane Benes sparked an offensive outburst in the bottom of the second with a double into the gap to put runners on second and third. Trey Harris put Missouri on the board first with an RBI single scoring Brett Bond. With the bases loaded Jake Ivory hit a sacrifice fly to score Benes and stretch the Tiger lead to 2-0.
South Carolina cut the lead in half 2-1 the next inning scoring on a sacrifice fly from DC Arendas. However, in the bottom of the fourth Harris smashed a double off the wall before Zach Lavy pushed him across with an RBI single to extend the Missouri lead back to two, 3-1.
Fast forward to the top of the seventh. McClain ran into some trouble giving up back-to-back hits to put runners on second and third with nobody out. This triggered Missouri skipper Tim Jameison to make a call to the bullpen for the Tiger closer Williams.
Williams came in and shut the door with a pair of punch-outs and a pop out to end the inning and preserve Missouri’s lead 3-1. McClain finished the afternoon with six hits allowed, one earned run, and four strikeouts.
Later, an RBI ground out by Benes extended the Tigers lead to 4-1 before Lavy added an insurance run with a sac fly to push the lead to 5-1. Williams took care of business again in the ninth to secure the 5-1 victory.
With the victory the Tigers advance in the SEC tournament to take on the second seeded Vanderbilt Commodores on Wednesday.
Game Note: Missouri closer Breckin Williams picked up his 13th save giving him the single season record in Missouri baseball history passing Ryan Stegall, who set the record with 12 in 2000.
For more Missouri Tiger updates follow @NickYahl on Twitter
