The night after Mizzou baseball tied its win total from last year with 16, the Tigers left it at 16 for another day.
No. 22 Tennessee tacked on one run at a time, knocking off the Tigers 4-2 to even the series.
“We had too many opportunities with runners in scoring position that we didn’t cash in on,” Missouri coach Kerrick Jackson said postgame on Mizzou Radio.
The Tigers (16-7 overall, 1-4 Southeastern) knocked in two runs, taking the lead in a productive second inning. Mizzou was aided by a brief lack of control from Tennessee pitcher Landon Mack. He walked center fielder Kaden Peer, then allowed him to reach third on a wild pitch and a balk. Another walk to shortstop Kam Durnin put runners on the corners.
A single from second baseman Blaize Ward and a groundout from Keegan Knutson allowed Peer then Durnin to score. Those were the only runs the Tigers scored all game.
Mizzou failed to capitalized on a bases loaded opportunity in the fifth inning, now trailing 3-2. After a walk and two singles, freshman left-handed pitcher Cam Appenzeller relieved Mack and ended the inning with a pair of strikeouts and a popout.
While the Tiger offense struggled, the lead was slowly disappearing. In the fourth inning, Tennessee broke past the Tigers for the Volunteers’ first lead of the series. Missouri starter Josh McDevitt allowed one run in three-straight innings, receiving credit for the loss.
“There were some self-inflicted wounds even there a little bit,” Jackson said. “You cruise through the first two outs, then we let a guy on and we can’t execute pitches there late.”
McDevitt left the mound with two outs in the top of the sixth inning, allowing a fourth run after a double, advancement on a groundout and a wild pitch. He walked back-to-back batters before being relieved by left Juan Villarreal, who walked another batter to load the bases before being pulled.
The Volunteers were finally quieted by Eli Skidmore, who escaped the sixth with a fielder’s choice. He gave up one hit and one walk and no runs in his 2+ innings on the mound.
Appenzeller had all the answers for Mizzou’s offense. He allowed just one hit in the seventh, but it was erased after Pierre Seals was caught stealing of Pierre. The Tigers hit a two-out single in the ninth from Cameron Benson. He tagged to third Jase Woita was walked to put runners on the corners and force Appenzeller out of the game. Bo Rhudy forced a groundout from Seals to secure the Volunteer win.
The series rubber-match is scheduled to begin at noon Sunday in Knoxville, Tennessee. Left-hander Brady Kehlenbrink will take the mound as the starter for the Tigers.