The Clash of Two Tigers, but only one prevails with stellar performances by Ryan Bliss and Kason Howell


By Justin Craft
Mizzou came into this series opener against Auburn on a one game losing streak falling to Kansas in a close one 9-8 on Tuesday. Mizzou looked to find an offensive surge early against Auburn and let their defense dictate how Auburn plays offensively. Mizzou though hasn’t played well at home all season. The Tigers are 5-14 at home coming into this game. Auburn on the road this season has been a sub .500 type of team, 8-9 on the season. Auburn would love to get their bats going early against Mizzou like they did against North Alabama on Tuesday scoring 14 runs in the win. 
Early in this game Top of the 2nd inning Auburn puts two runs on the scoreboard. DH Cam Hill hits a single to second base followed by CF Kason Howell’s double to left center, runners at second and third. LF Judd Ward hits a sacrifice fly to leftfield and Hill scores, 1-0. Later in the top of the 2nd inning SS Ryan Bliss hits a double down the leftfield line, Howell scores, 2-0. Mizzou pitcher: Jacob Kush finds a way to stop the early momentum by the Tigers. Auburn stranded two runners in scoring position. 
Top of the 3rd, Auburn added another run with a towering HR to right center field by 3B Rankin Woley, his 10th HR of the season, 3-0. Mizzou’s offense is still not a factor at all so far through three innings.
Top of the 5th, Auburn’s offense added another run by Rankin Woley’s double to left center, scoring 1B Tyler Miller, 4-0. Mizzou’s offense is still non-existent, Auburn pitcher: Jack Owen pitching exceptionally well for Auburn, has only given up two hits. 
Top of the 6th, Auburn keeps clawing at Mizzou. DH Cam Hill reaches on a fielding error by Mizzou’s 1B Torin Montgomery. Followed by Kason Howell’s two run HR to left, 6-0. Later in the Top of the 6th the Tiger’s kept on pouring on the runs. Ryan Bliss singles up the middle C Ryan Dyal scores, and LF Judd Ward scores, 8-0. Tiger’s offense is still nowhere to be found. Auburn pitcher: Jack Owen through 6.2 innings on the mound only gave up four hits and struck out seven. 
Top of the 7th, Auburn keeps the petal to the metal and adds another run off a single to left field by Ryan Bliss, scores Cam Hill, 9-0. Mizzou finally gets off life support offensively and scores two runs in the bottom of the 7th, off a two run HR to left field by 3B Luke Mann, 9-2.
Early in the top of the 8th, Auburn doesn’t let up and adds three more runs to their lead, from a three run HR by Howell, his 8th home run of the season, 12-2. Later in the top of the 8th Ryan Bliss hits a double to right center, scores Ward, 13-2. Followed by Tyler Miller grounding out to the first baseman, scored Dyal, 14-2. Then Woley hits a single to left field, scores Bliss, 15-2. 
Bottom of the 8th Tigers trying to add more runs to at least make the loss not look like a blowout. Torin Montgomery singled up the middle, scored Wilmsmeyer, 15-3. Then LF Brandt Belk doubled to right center, scoring Morris, 15-4.
Bottom of the 9th Mizzou adds two more runs even though this game is already over. Mann hits another home run, his 8th HR of the season and his third straight game with a homerun. Later in the bottom of the 9th, Morris singled to right field, scoring Holt Jr. 15-6. 
Auburn keeps rolling and now have won three straight, with the two stars of the night for the Tiger’s in Ryan Bliss who was 4 for 6, 1 run, and 5 RBI’s and Kason Howell who was 3 for 6, 3 runs, 2 HRs, and 5 RBI’s. The defense played a significant piece to the success in holding Mizzou to six scoreless innings. 

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