By PJ Potter – ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
A five run sixth inning pushed Missouri over Hofstra 12-2 in the series opener at City of Palms Park in Fort Myers, Florida.
In an inning with just one hit given up, four of the five runs were walked in by Hofstra pitchers Adam Heidenfelder and Matt Weissheier, which gave the Tigers all the cushion for the victory. Heidenfelder crossed five runs while recording one out. Weissheier let up two runs over 1.2 innings and Jake Bufo had three earned in one inning.
Despite allowing 12 runs for the game, Pride starter Chris Weiss gave his club a stellar five inning outing. Weiss surrendered two runs (one earned) on four hits and no walks while striking out five batters in his third career start for Hofstra.
Missouri’s Reggie McClain improved to 2-0 in the early season, pitching a complete game without a single earned run issued. The redshirt senior scattered nine hits and fanned six Hofstra hitters.
Hofstra opened the scoring in the third inning with David Leiderman’s single on a 2-0 count, scoring Chris Hardardt.
The Tigers did not answer until the fifth inning. Ian Nelson, who finished 3-for-4 in the ninth spot of the lineup, notched the first run with a single through the right side of the infield, scoring first baseman Zach Lavy.
The next batter, Connor Brumfield, launched a double to left field, giving Missouri a 2-1 lead heading into the sixth inning.
David Leiderman once again came through with a base hit for the Pride with a runner in scoring position, advancing Tommy Archer to score on a line drive up the middle.
However, Hofstra would not find themselves within reach of Missouri from that point on.
After the five runs scored in the sixth, the Tigers posted five more runs in the seventh and eighth innings on RBI singles from Connor Brumfield, Ian Nelson, Brian Sharp and Ryan Howard to cap their 12 runs.
Neslon and Brumfield totaled three runs batted in each. Brian Sharp tallied three hits, two RBI, and four runs for Missouri.
For Hofstra, Brad Witkowski finished 2-for-3. Chris Hardardt, Ryan Karl, Tommy Archer, Nick Bottari and Steven Foster each had one hit.
