3 weeks ago
Blaize Ward’s impactful capacity against Vanderbilt this past play has been good recognized by nan Southeastern Conference. The standout freshman’s 6–for–13 capacity pinch 4 RBI against nan Commodores earned him his 2nd SEC Co-Freshman of nan Week grant for nan 2026 season. The first grant came aft nan Tigers won their first SEC bid of nan play successful early April against then-ranked No. 24 Kentucky.
At nan time, Ward led nan Tigers pinch a .500 batting mean successful SEC play. Since then, he’s kept up his momentum, becoming a staple of this Tigers lineup, still starring nan squad successful mean astatine .353 successful SEC play. Elevating since Missouri came into nan convention slate, Ward has go a accordant beingness successful nan lineup aft not making an quality from Feb. 28 to Mar 10.
“Blaze has been Blaize from nan beginning,” Mizzou coach Kerrick Jackson said post-game Sunday. “He sewage nan opportunity to play because Kam Durnin had that wounded astatine nan opening of nan year. He started disconnected a small slow; things divided up connected him a small bit. We sat him, past erstwhile we put him backmost successful there, he was wished not to fto america return him retired of nan lineup.”
Both Ward and Durnin person been cardinal bats for Missouri successful SEC play, arsenic Ward is only 2nd down Durnin successful full hits successful SEC play. Durnin capped disconnected his last convention crippled astatine Taylor Stadium Sunday pinch a 3–for–3 time astatine nan plate, including a triple.
Neither player, fto unsocial immoderate bat successful nan full Tigers lineup, struck retired successful their last location crippled this season. The 4th and last tally of nan bid from Mizzou besides came via nan pairing, arsenic nan triple by Durnin led to Ward’s sac fly, giving Tiger right-hander Sam Rosand a important security tally earlier he came successful for nan ninth inning.
In nan field, Ward’s mitt has been connected afloat display, 3rd successful nan squad pinch 47 assists, holding a .956 fielding percentage, and 4th successful double plays turned pinch 12.
“The 1 point (Blaize) has done is he’s played elite defense each twelvemonth long,” Jackson said.
“When you’re playing defense, if you’re not hitting, if you’re taking hits distant aliases making large plays, it’s conscionable arsenic important.”
After suffering a expanse earlier successful May against nan SEC regular play champions Georgia, Ward and nan Tigers will person different chance to propulsion disconnected an upset against apical 5 guidance this week erstwhile they return connected No. 4 Texas. The three-game bid successful Austin is nan last regular play group for nan Tigers up of nan SEC tourney and will return spot from Thursday-Saturday.
