O'FALLON, Mo.- Mizzou won its fourth-straight game as it picked up a 7-0 win over Eastern Illinois on Tuesday in the Tigers' annual 'Wood Bat Classic' at T.R. Hughes Ballpark in O'Fallon, Mo. The Tigers utilized the staff pitching approach which they have perfected this season. Nine MU pitchers took the mound on Tuesday, as the Tigers improved to 11-3 when using the pitcher-by-committee plan.
Senior Steve Gray matched a career-high with four hits on Tuesday night, finishing 4-for-4 with two RBI. Junior Greg Folgia added two hits to extend his hitting streak to 10 games, and junior Aaron Senne had a pair of hits, including a two-run home run.
Gray's first hit was an RBI single in the bottom of the second inning, which drove in Folgia. Folgia and junior Trevor Coleman each drew walks to open the second. Coleman scored the second run of the inning when sophomore Ryan Ampleman reached on an error.
Mizzou (25-21) added three runs in the third inning, including Gray's second RBI single in as many at-bats. Gray drove in Folgia, who had singled early in the inning to extend his hitting streak to 10 games, which matches his career long. That followed a two-run home run by Senne. It was Senne's second home run in the last four games and his second of the season.
The Tigers opened the top of the seventh inning with three-straight doubles from Folgia, Coleman and senior Kyle Mach. Coleman's hit drove in Folgia and Mach's two-bagger scored Coleman. Gray followed by singling for his fourth hit of the game.
Eastern Illinois (32-10) was held scoreless through the first seven innings by the MU pitching staff before a four-run top of the eighth, scoring the four runs on four hits and a pair of Missouri errors. The Panthers got a two-run single from Jordan Tokarz and a double from Jordan Kreke that drove in two.
Freshman Ryan Clubb started for Mizzou and pitched two scoreless innings, allowing two hits. He was credited with the victory to improve to 3-2 on the season. Sophomore Brad Buehler recorded the final four outs of the game to pick up his fourth save of the year.
The Tigers improve to 5-0 all-time against Eastern Illinois.
On Wednesday, the Tigers will travel to Springfield, Mo. to take on Missouri State at 6:30 p.m.