Mizzou takes it in 13th

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- It was a hit fest all night, until extra innings.

There wasn't a scoreless inning in regulation. But as soon as extra innings started, the pitchers became dominant.

Lee Laskowski hit a single up the middle with the bases loaded and two outs to score Kyle Johnson to finally end the 13-inning marathon with the University of Missouri defeating in-state rival Southeast Missouri State University 12-11 Wednesday night at Taylor Stadium.

With one out in the bottom of the 13th, Johnson walked off reliever Gary Gilbert -- Southeast's third baseman who had pitched just eight innings all season and had not worked in more than a month -- then Bo Davis followed with a chopper to the pitcher. Catcher Brady Noll couldn't make a play and both runners were safe.

Trevor Helms then hit a chopper to shortstop Ernie Bracamonte, but he beat out the throw. Gilbert struck out Tyler Williams, but then Laskowski finished it off.

After a barrage of hits early on, neither team could get a hit in the 10th or the 11th inning.

Then came the 12th.

Bracamonte hit a line drive single over the second baseman. That scored Bo Jenkins to give the Indians an 11-10 lead. Jenkins singled to start off the inning, and then advanced on Eric Horstman's sacrifice bunt.

But the Tigers came back.

Helms doubled to lead off the bottom of the 12th, went to third on a sacrifice fly and later scored on Ryan Rallo's two-out single.

The Indians (24-24, 13-10 Ohio Valley Conference) trailed all game until finally taking the lead in the eighth inning on Gilbert's two-out, two-run single that made it 10-9.

Southeast closer Brad Smith, after working a scoreless eighth, gave up an unearned run in the ninth as MU (30-20-1, 9-14 Big 12) tied it. With one out, James Boone doubled to left center field. Johnson pinch hit for Gary Arndt and grounded to second baseman Jenkins, who bobbled it, allowing Johnson to reach safely on the error. It was Southeast's only error of the night.

With runners on first and third, Davis pinch hit for Cosme Caballero. Davis laid down a perfect bunt on the first base line on the squeeze play. Boone scored to tie the game at 10.

Smith, who has a school-record 10 saves, worked three innings before giving way to Gilbert, who kept the Indians in the game until MU's final response.

Missouri had 19 hits and Southeast had 17.

Gilbert suffered the loss and Nick Admire picked up the win. Gilbert led the Indians at the plate, going 4-for-7 with three RBIs.

Southeast finishes the regular season this weekend with a three-game series at OVC opponent Tennessee-Martin. The Indians are tied for fourth among 10 teams and have clinched a spot in next week's conference tournament.