Mizzou baseball wins three of four-game series against Central Michigan, improves to 8-5 in March

Leave a Comment Posted by Nick Gerhardt on March 20, 2011

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After losing five of their first seven games, Mizzou baseball continued to improve over the weekend by winning the first three games of a four-part series against Central Michigan. The Tigers split their double-header with a win in the first game against the Chippewas 8-6, improving their record in the month of March to eight victories and five defeats. Central Michigan bounced back in the afternoon game with an 8-1 triumph in the series finale.

Ryan Ampleman of Mizzou led off from the designated hitter spot during the early game then moved to starting catcher for the second. As a DH, he went three-of-five from the plate and drove in three runs. Outfielder Dane Opel posted even more impressive numbers, going three-for-four and accounting for four of Mizzou’s eight runs.

No Mizzou player had more than one hit in the second Sunday game up against Chippewa pitchers Zach Cooper and Dietrich Enns. Ryan Ampleman scored on a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning, the sole pockmark on Cooper’s record, who started his fourth game of the year.

Meanwhile, Mizzou played five of its worst arms statistically. Jeff Scardino (1-1, 4.82 ERA) surrendered five runs to 21 batters through four innings. Relievers Myles Smith and Ross Dusty each made it in and out without surrendering a run in a combined three innings of work. Kelly Fick continued to struggle on the mound; the first batter he faced, pinch-hitter Eric Wrozek, hit a home run and CMU third-baseman Tyler Hall reached base on a fielders choice and eventually scored after an error in the eighth inning by Mizzou third-baseman Conner Mach.

Pitcher Jeff Scardino was credited with the Sunday loss, while pitchers Rob Zastryny, Matt Stites, and Brad Buehler improved their winning percentage agains the Chippewas. Phil McCormick picked up a save in the first game as well, a 7-6 nail biter at Taylor Stadium on Friday, March 18.

Next Up
The Tigers face the Bears of Central Arkansas twice on Tuesday, March 22 at 6:00 p.m. CT and Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. CT.

They face their first conference opponent on Friday against Oklahoma, the first part of a three-game series against the Sooners.
Game 1: Friday, March 25, 2011 6:00 p.m. CT
Game 2: Saturday, March 26, 2011 2:00 p.m. CT
Game 3: Sunday, March 27, 2011 1:00 p.m. CT

: Mizzou outfielder Brannon Champagne (6) slides around the Central Michigan tag attempt by Jordan Dean (7) to steal second base in the eighth inning of the Tigers’ sole loss in the series against the Chippewas.

: Mizzou catcher Ryan Ampleman tags-up on a Conner Mach sacrifice fly to score the only run of the game for the Tigers.

: Central Michigan outfielder Andrew Thomas dives and snags a Mizzou line-drive off the bat of Jeff Lusardi. Thomas grabbed caught all five balls hit to his area of the outfield for outs in the series finale.

Central Michigan right-hander Zach Cooper held the Tigers to one run in six innings of work. Cooper picked up his first win of the season to even-out his record as a starter at 1-1.

Mizzou hitter Johan Schmidt attempts to beat-out the Chippewa throw to first base, but comes up just short. Schmidt connected on one-of-four in the final game of the series.

Mizzou relief pitcher Myles Smith (left) pitching for just more than two innings and gave up just two hits, zero runs, and struck out three. He also recorded his first walk of the season, and ended up with three on the day.

Central Michigan runner Tyler Hall (21) sidesteps Mizzou catcher Ryan Ampleman as he attempts to catch the ball and apply a tag. Hall walked earlier in the inning to reach base.

Mizzou shortstop Jesse Santo (right) attempts to turn a double play after forcing out Central Michigan runner Branden Emmett (12). Emmett did arguably the most damage to the Tigers on Sunday with three-of-four batting and two runs scored.

Mizzou designated hitter Dane Opel smiles at Central Michigan pitcher Dietrich Enns as he leads off first. Enns tried to pick off the runner once, but eventually surrendered a walk to hitter Eric Anderson

Mizzou shortstop Jesse Santo guns down Central Michigan hitter Tom Howard to close out the seventh inning in an eventual 8-1 defeat at home for the Tigers.

Mizzou pitcher Dusty Ross converses with catcher Ryan Ampleman seconds before being pulled in favor of Brian Carr. Ross surrenedered one hit and struck out one while allowing no runs in a full inning of work.

Mizzou players began to lose hope with two outs and a seven run deficit on the scoreboard. The team beat Central Michigan in the first three contests, but fell in the finale 8-6 at Taylor Stadium in Columbia, Mo.