OXFORD, MISS. ? The fourth-seeded Monmouth University Hawks dropped a 9-0 decision to No. 23-ranked Missouri in the second game of the 2009 NCAA Oxford Regional, on Saturday afternoon at Oxford-University Stadium.
Monmouth (32-25), which was shutout for just the second time all season, by Missouri starter Kyle Gibson (the No. 4 overall prospect according to Baseball America in this year's MLB draft) was eliminated from the 2009 NCAA Tournament.
In the contest, Monmouth's eighth overall NCAA Regional game, Chris Collazo's single in the third inning gave the senior 247 career hits, tying him with Joe McCullough (1995-98) for the all-time lead in the Monmouth history.
Kyle Mach delivered a single to center to start things for the Tigers in the second inning, and Mizzou plated an unearned run with two outs as Ryan Ampleman's full-count, pop up to centerfield was dropped by Josh Boyd, allowing a run to score from first base, for the 1-0 edge.
Monmouth, which advanced a runner into scoring position in the opening frame, as Nick Pulsonetti singled and stole second, loaded the bases with two outs in the second inning. After David Jacob reached on a throwing error by the catcher, Jamie Rosenkranz was hit by a pitch, before Boyd rocketed a shot at the first baseman for a hit to pack the bags. With the bases loaded, Brett Holland drilled a first-pitch shot back to the pitcher, who was able to corral the ball and just beat Jacob with a toss to the catcher for the force at home.
The Tigers added their second run in the top of the fourth inning after third baseman Mach and Trevor Coleman connected on back-to-back singles. With runners on the corners, Steve Gray laid down a bunt to Buch, who attempted a backhanded flip to catcher Bobby Dombrowski, but not before Mach crossed home plate giving the Tigers a two-run advantage.
The Tigers tacked on three scores in the fifth to take a 5-0 lead, as Buch plunked Austin Holt on a 3-2 count to lead off the frame. After Holt moved over to third on a Ryan Lollis double down the right field line, Holt crossed the plate on a wild pitch. After a walk to Greg Folgia, Mizzou's left fielder Aaron Senne singled to right field, plating Lollis for a four-run lead. Missouri was able to get one more run across as Folgia crossed home plate on Trevor Coleman's double-play ground out, which was speared by Jamie Rosenkranz to start the play.
Monmouth got two on in the fifth as Holland singled through the right side then stole second base, Monmouth's 100th stolen base of the season. Pulsonetti followed with a walk but Tigers' starter Kyle Gibson was able to get Collazo to ground out into a fielder's choice to end the inning.
The Tigers got the first two runners on in the top of the sixth after leadoff walk to Ampleman ran Buch from the contest. Mizzou welcomed reliever Nick Meyers with a first-pitch, bunt single, but the Hawks got out of the inning unscathed with three straight putouts at third base.
Mizzou notched a run in the top of the seventh inning, as consecutive singles put runners at the corners, in front of Coleman's sac fly. The Tigers inflated the lead to 8-0 when Steve Gray delivered a two-run homer to right center, off Meyers.
Holland's double to the rightfield gap, followed by a Ryan Terry hit-by-pitch, put a pair of runners on for the Hawks in the bottom of the seventh, but Gibson's seventh strikeout and a groundout maintained the eight-run cushion for the Tigers.
Aaron Senne's full count, solo shot to right field in the top of the eighth, off reliever Kyle Breese, pushed Missouri in front 9-0.
Buch, who registered a pair of strikeouts in the opening frame, increased his single-season record total to 92, with his five punchouts in the contest. Buch allowed five runs on seven hits, in his 5.0 innings of work. Meyers tossed 1.1 innings for the Hawks, allowing three runs, on five hits.
Monmouth, which stranded a total of 19 runners in the two games, collected 6 hits against Mizzou, as Holland added a pair of hits in the leadoff spot for the Hawks.
Gibson worked eight shutout innings for the Tigers, scattering six hits, with eight strikeouts, to earn the victory for Mizzou. Ryan Gargano, a lefty, worked a perfect ninth for Mizzou.
Photo courtesy of Matthew Sharpe
