Columbia, Mo. – No. 5 Vanderbilt pieced together another two-out rally to beat Missouri 2-0 in 11 innings Saturday night at Taylor Stadium.
For the second night in a row, the Commodores (19-4, 3-2) rallied late with two outs to beat the Tigers (14-11, 0-5). Vanderbilt survived a strong nine-inning start from Mizzou’s Tanner Houck to get the game into extra innings in a scoreless game. The Dores started their game-winning rally in the top of the 11th when Bryan Reynolds lined a single into left field. Will Toffey worked his third walk of the game to push Reynolds into scoring position and set up Jason Delay. The junior backstop delivered with a single up the middle that sent Reynolds home from second for the game’s first run. Toffey went first to third on the infield single and scored on the next pitch when Alonzo Jones singled up the middle. The rally came to an end when Jason Delay was thrown out at home on a close play as part of a double steal.
Ben Bowden was tapped to close out his second game in as many days and breezed through three Missouri Tigers in the bottom of the 11th to notch his second save of the season and clinch the Commodores’ fifth series win of the year.
Vanderbilt starter Kyle Wright battled the Tigers offense early, matching Houck zero for zero through six innings. Wright worked into and out of trouble in the first three innings, stranding five Tigers on the bases, including the bases loaded in the second. Wright settled down from there allowing only one base runner over his final three innings. Matt Ruppenthal took over in the seventh and scattered two hits over his four innings to earn his first career win. The right-hander picked up a big double play in the ninth inning to send it to extras.
Ro Coleman posted two of the Commodores six hits in the win, including breaking up Houck’s no-hit bid with a single in the sixth. Coleman is now 5-for-9 in the series.
Houck was impressive for Missouri, striking out a career-high 14 over nine innings in a no decision. Cole Bartlett took the loss, giving up two runs on four hits over 1.2 innings. Ryan Howard led the Mizzou offense with two hits.
The Commodores and Tigers wrap up the series tomorrow at noon on SEC Network. Hayden Stone is set to make his second career start for the Dores against Mizzou lefty Austin Tribby.
