Tigers defeat Saint Louis with 19 runs Wednesday

Missouri collected 16 hits in the blowout victory.

By JJ Stankevitz

Published April 2, 2009

After only scoring four total runs in a three-game series against Oklahoma State on Sunday and Monday, Missouri scored a season-high in runs in its 19-6 win over Saint Louis on Wednesday at Busch Stadium.

"After last weekend, we needed to get some more offense," cleanup hitter Greg Folgia said. "We had a lot better at-bats today."

The first two innings of the game saw 14 combined runs cross the plate, 11 of which were by Missouri. Kyle Gibson started and struggled in his one inning of work, allowing three earned runs to score on four hits and one walk. It was Gibson's second consecutive rough outing, as Missouri's ace was roughed up for seven earned runs in two innings Sunday against Oklahoma State. While Gibson threw 35 pitches in one inning of work, coach Tim Jamieson said Gibson's schedule will not be altered and he will start a game this weekend against Oklahoma.

Missouri's offense immediately picked up Gibson with four runs in the bottom of the first off SLU's Zach Outman, who is the brother of Oakland Athletics pitcher Josh Outman. Michael Liberto and Ryan Lollis flew out to begin the inning, but Trevor Coleman drew a two-out walk that was followed by an RBI double from Folgia. Aaron Senne followed Folgia's double with an RBI single, and after Conner Mach coaxed a walk, Steve Gray nailed a two-run double to center that plated the third and fourth runs of the inning to give Missouri a lead they would not relinquish.

After Ryan Allen held SLU scoreless in the top of the second, Missouri's offense went into gear in the bottom of the inning. Missouri sent 12 batters to the plate in the inning en route to scoring seven runs to widen its lead to eight. The offense only had three hits in the inning, but two-run singles by Folgia and Jonah Schmidt proved to be the big blows of the frame. Mach picked up an RBI on a hit by pitch, Gray drew a bases-loaded walk and Mach had a RBI sacrifice fly to account for Missouri's other three runs.

Missouri's offensive output of 19 runs truly was a team effort. Eight of Missouri's nine starters had at least one RBI, with Folgia and Gray collecting three each and Liberto, Senne and Schmidt each contributing a pair. Ryan Gebhart added a two-run double in the bottom of the eighth after replacing Folgia in left field when he came in to pitch. Rex Meyr made it an even 10 different hitters with a RBI when picked up a RBI single in the eighth as well. Every Missouri hitter reached base at least twice, with Liberto (four hits, one walk) and Senne (two hits, three walks) leading the charge by reaching base five times. Folgia and Mach also had multi-hit games while Schmidt reached base four times on a single, hit by pitch, walk and error.

As a team, Missouri collected 16 hits, drew 11 walks was hit by four pitches and reached base on two errors and a catcher interference call.

"It's definitely a confidence booster when you get 16 hits," Liberto said.