Miles, Tigers Blank Falcons 6-0


By: Brendan Dames, KCOU Sports
The Missouri Tigers improved to 16-4 on the season Tuesday night, defeating the Air Force Falcons (8-10) 6-0. Senior starting pitcher John Miles (1-0) threw 6 shutout innings in the win, his first since March 8th of last year.
After Miles retired the Falcons in the top of first, the Tigers struck quickly off of Air Force starter Ryan Holloway (0-2) in the bottom half of the frame. After Holloway allowed Brett Peel (walk) and Jake Ring (bunt single) to reach base, Ryan Howard lined a ball into right field to score Peel and give the Tigers an early 1-0 edge. Howard would add to the Tigers’ lead just one inning later, as the sophomore shortstop hit a bases clearing double to give the Tigers a 5-0 lead.
Making only his second start of the year, Miles kept the Falcons off-balance throughout the afternoon. Miles ran into some trouble in the 3rd, as the Falcons loaded the bases with 2 outs, but Miles induced a Tyler Jones fielder’s choice to end the threat. After Miles exited after 6 strong innings, Missouri relievers Austin Tribby (1 IP) and Bryce Montes De Oca (2 IP) pitched three shutout innings to preserve the Tiger win.
The Tigers scored their 6th run of the game in the 3rd, as a Logan Pearson RBI triple scored junior first baseman Zach Lavy. The Tigers were kept off the scoreboard for the remainder of the game, however, as three Air Force relievers combined to throw five shutout innings the rest of the way. St. Louis native Michael Rieker pitched four strong innings of relief for the Falcons, allowing just one run on four hits.
In the victory, Missouri’s 1-3 hole hitters (Peel, Ring and Howard) combined to reach base eight times, scoring four of the Tigers’ six runs. Ring (1-2, 2 BB 2 Rs) has now reached base safely in 20 straight contests.

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