Gibson throws eight shutout innings as Missouri stays alive with 9-0 win

Missouri stays alive with 9-0 win over Monmouth

OXFORD, Miss. — Kyle Gibson struck out eight and allowed six hits in eight strong innings and Missouri eliminated Monmouth 9-0 in the NCAA tournament on Saturday.

Gibson was held out of Friday’s opening game in hopes of pitching in a winner’s bracket final. Those plans changed when the Tigers (35-26) were beaten 11-5 by Western Kentucky on Friday.

Gibson (11-3) responded by lifting Missouri to the losers’ bracket final at 1 p.m. Sunday with the Mississippi-Western Kentucky loser.

Missouri scored three runs in the fifth and seventh innings highlighted by Steve Gray’s two-run homer. Kyle Mach was 4 for 5 and Aaron Senne added a solo homer to pace a 15-hit attack by the Tigers.

Ryan Buch (7-4) took the loss for Monmouth (32-25), winless in four regional appearances. The Hawks scored only one run in two tournament games.