Tigers win close game against Missouri State

The Tigers' win helped them gain momentum for the Kansas matchup.

By John Montesantos

Published May 7, 2010

The Tigers hosted Missouri State on Tuesday in their second game of the season against the non-conference rival. Missouri earned a hard-fought 11-6 win to even the series after falling to the Bears back in April.

The midweek contest started out slow for the home team as the Tigers dug themselves a hole early. Junior right-hander Tyler Clark got the start and gave up two runs before junior left-hander Jeff Scardino took over in the third. The reliever then yielded a solo shot by Missouri State senior third baseman Curt Courtwright to put the Tigers down three.

The other resident of the hot corner answered back as junior third baseman Brett Nicholas blasted a three-run homer to tie it up in the fourth. The long ball extended his current hitting streak to 19 games and made up three of the Tiger's five runs in the inning.

"I think it was a really good turning point in the game, and kind of what allowed us to win," Nicholas said. "I think we came out a little bit flat, but as soon as we needed to turn on it we did."

The rest of the game became a back-and-forth battle, with two more lead changes before the two Missouri teams found themselves tied 6-6 after five. Three runs in the bottom of the sixth and a stellar relief job from junior lefty Phil McCormick let the Tigers coast to victory.

McCormick was the fourth and final pitcher called upon in the game, and his four scoreless innings pitched earned him the win. The junior gave up just two hits and struck out five to close it out.

Despite not getting much time on the mound this season, McCormick was thankful for the opportunity and took full advantage of it.

"I'm fine with whatever they give me," he said. "I'm ecstatic to be on the mound. When you need a win and coach asks you to keep going out there, I just try to do my job."

Coach Tim Jamieson had reason to keep sending McCormick out in the final innings and knew he could get it done.

"He's become one of the more trustworthy guys," Jamieson said. "With the wind blowing out, he's a groundball guy that generally throws strikes."

Although Missouri finally got a strong outing from the bullpen, there were also some notable performances at the plate. As Nicholas kept his 19-game hit streak alive, the other two members of the "Big Three" fared well as seniors Aaron Senne and Michael Liberto each had two hits. Freshman designated hitter Scott Sommerfeld joined them for his first multi-hit game as a Tiger.

The Missouri players quickly put aside the comeback win, focusing all their attention on this weekend's series with Kansas. Both Nicholas and Liberto mentioned a need to get a win in Lawrence.

"We need to make sure we come away with at least a win if not a sweep," Nicholas said. "It'll be huge if we can go into Lawrence this weekend and win two or even three."

The first pitch of the series will be thrown at 6 p.m. tonight inside Hoglund Ballpark in Lawrence, Kansas.