COLUMBIA, Mo. — Vanderbilt claimed the series at Missouri with a 5-0 shutout victory Saturday at Taylor Stadium.
Devin Futrell gave the Commodores 7.1 shutout innings and recorded six strikeouts while holding Missouri to five hits. Futrell hasn’t allowed a run over his last 15.1 innings of work.
RJ Austin tallied three RBIs on the day to provide Futrell with more than enough run support.
The Commodores tallied a first-inning run for the fourth consecutive game as RJ Schreck launched his team-leading eighth home run on the season, a solo shot to left, with two outs in the top of the first.
Vanderbilt was held scoreless over the next four innings but added second run to double the lead at 2-0 in the top of the sixth. Schreck reached on an error and Austin brought him home with a single up the middle.
Vanderbilt stretched its lead in the top of the seventh with three runs on three hits. Enrique Bradfield Jr. got things going with a one-out single. Davis Diaz drew a walk and Schreck beat the shift with a single through the left side to drive in Bradfield from second.
A fielder’s choice put the second out on the board, but Austin delivered with a double to right to score Diaz and Schreck to give Vanderbilt a 5-0 lead.
Missouri threatened with a pair of baserunners in the bottom of the eighth, but Ryan Ginther entered the game in relief and got a groundout before Patrick Reilly came in and got a flyout to end the inning, stranding both runners.
Nick Maldonado took the mound for the bottom of the ninth and recorded his fifth save on the season. His 14th career save moves him into a tie with Carson Fulmer for sixth-most saves in program history.
Vanderbilt (26-6, 11-1 SEC) returns home to host North Alabama at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Hawkins Field.
