Blaize Ward has done it again. The Missouri Tigers' freshman sensation has been named SEC Co-Freshman of the Week for the second time this season, following a standout performance against Vanderbilt that had fans at Taylor Stadium buzzing.

Ward went 6-for-13 at the plate with four RBIs against the Commodores, capping his final home series of the 2026 season in style. His first conference honor came back in early April, after the Tigers took their first SEC series win of the year against then-No. 24 Kentucky.

Since stepping into the lineup, Ward has been nothing short of electric. He leads the team with a .353 batting average in SEC play—a remarkable climb for a player who didn’t see game action from late February to early March. After a slow start, he earned his spot and has refused to let it go.

“Blaize has been Blaize from the beginning,” said Mizzou head coach Kerrick Jackson. “He got the opportunity because of an injury to Kam Durnin. He started a little slow, so we sat him. But once we put him back in, he was determined not to let us take him out.”

Ward and Durnin have formed a formidable one-two punch in the Tigers' lineup. Durnin, who also shined in his final home conference game with a 3-for-3 day including a triple, leads the team in hits during SEC play—with Ward right behind him. In Sunday's series finale, the duo combined for the game's decisive run: Durnin's triple set the table for Ward's sacrifice fly, giving pitcher Sam Rosand a crucial insurance run heading into the ninth.

Perhaps most impressive? Not a single Tigers batter struck out in that final home game—a testament to the discipline and focus of this lineup.

Defensively, Ward has been just as impactful. He ranks third on the team with 47 assists, boasts a .956 fielding percentage, and is fourth in double plays turned with 12. “The one thing he's done is play elite defense all year long,” Jackson added. “When you're playing defense like that, even if you're not hitting, you're still contributing. But Blaize is doing both.”