CLEARWATER, FLA. – The University of Missouri-St. Louis baseball team gave head coach Jim Brady his 800^th career victory on Saturday as the Tritons defeated Minnesota-Crookston, 20-8, to wrap up their weeklong trip to Florida.
 
In his 31^st season, Brady sports a career mark of 800-613-12. Entering this season, he ranked 15^th among NCAA Division II active coaches for the most career wins and was 41^st all-time in career victories – both at 790.
 
The Tritons improve to 10-1 overall and extend their winning streak to seven games. UMSL returns to the field next Saturday and Sunday for four games at the Regional Crossover in Carmel, Ind. Minnesota-Crookston slips to 3-6.
 
UMSL tallied 17 hits in the win and scored in eight of the nine frames, with 11 different players crossing the plate.
 
Freshman Gian Gomez recorded three hits and three RBIs, while junior Rob Hoffman added three hits and scored three runs. Senior Dominic Orlando finished with two hits and four RBIs, while also drawing three walks. UMSL was issued 13 walks.
 
After a 2-0 lead in the top of the first by the Tritons was equaled by two Golden Eagle runs in the bottom of the frame, the Tritons scored four times in the second inning, including two on a Busekrus home run, to ignite a string of 12 unanswered runs through the fifth inning.
 
Junior Kevin Smith picked up the win in five innings. He allowed four runs, including just one earned, on four hits. Two unearned runs came across the plate in the first inning and then Smith kept the Golden Eagles quiet until the fifth inning.