Neubeck’s Gem Helps Tigers Even Series

COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri freshman pitcher Tony Nuebeck threw seven strong innings to power a 9-4 Tigers win over Kentucky on Friday night at Taylor Stadium.

Neubeck (3-1) surrendered just two runs in his career-long outing. The rookie southpaw limited Kentucky (21-14, 5-9 SEC) to just three hits while maneuvering through his seven innings on 89 pitches. He struck out five without issuing a walk.

Mizzou (20-12, 4-10 SEC) opened the scoring with a three-run second inning. Tre Morris put the Tigers on top with an RBI single, part of a 2-for-5 day for the catcher. Ross Lovich and Josh Day followed with RBI knocks of their own to make it 3-0 Tigers.

Lovich and Day each finished 2-for-4 at the plate with two and three RBI, respectively. Designated hitter Fox Leum launched his fifth home run of the season to help the Tigers ice the game late.

IMPACT INNING

With a 4-2 lead at the stretch, Mizzou poured on the insurance runs in the bottom of the seventh to seal the game. After Torin Montgomery reached on a passed ball, Leum blasted his two-run shot to right field to jumpstart the inning. Morris followed with a single before Ty Wilmsmeyer was hit-by-pitch to put a pair aboard. Day scored both with his triple past the sliding Kentucky right fielder before scoring on a wild pitch to make it 9-2 Tigers.

TOP TIGERS

Tony Neubeck: 7.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 5 K

Ross Lovich: 2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI

Josh Day: 2-for-4, 3B, 3 RBI

IN THE NOTES

• Neubeck is the first Mizzou true freshman to throw seven innings and earn the win in a game since TJ Sikkema in 2017.
• All five of Leum’s home runs have come in the past nine games. His two RBI marked his sixth game with multiple runs driven in.
• Day’s two-hit performance is his 14th of the year. It was also his team-leading seventh multi-RBI night.
• Lovich had his seventh multi-hit and fifth multi-RBI game of the season.
• Trevor Austin drew a pair of walks to reach for the eighth-consecutive game.

FROM THE SKIP

Coach Bieser on Neubeck taking command of the game…

“He really did, especially the last couple innings. I thought he was scuffling most of the game with his command and really didn’t have his great slider today. But, that’s what he does, he competes without his best stuff and that’s what great pitchers do. I’m just really proud of the way he competed. Man, when he got a second wind there towards the last bit, he was throwing the ball really well.”

UP NEXT

Mizzou and Kentucky meet for the rubber match on Saturday afternoon. First pitch at Taylor Stadium is set for 1 p.m. on the SEC Network.

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-MUTigers.com-