In a battle of the big cats, the Lions prevailed on Wednesday.
Mizzou’s pitching struggles and defensive miscommunications aided Lindenwood to a 10-4 win in St. Charles. The win was Lindenwood’s first-ever over the Tigers.
“Just bad baseball,” Missouri coach Kerrick Jackson said postgame to Mizzou Radio.
Mizzou starter Luke Sullivan struggled, pitching just 3⅓ innings while giving up three runs to the Lions. Two singles and a double brought in the first two runs in the second. The third run credited to Sullivan crossed the plate after two singles in the third to give Lindenwood a one-run lead.
Isaiah Salas took over for Sullivan, recording the last two outs in the fourth before being replaced by Luke Fricker. He walked the first two batters he faced before being pulled for fellow lefty Juan Villarreal, who brought in Fricker’s runners on a fielder’s-choice out and a sacrifice fly.
The Lions added four more runs as Mizzou pitching unraveled late. After a walk to lead off the bottom of the seventh, Villarreal was pulled for reliever Trey Lawrence, who allowed the run to cross on a double plus a wild pitch. A two-run homer from Lindenwood’s Tyler Ellis ended Lawrence’s stint on the mound after recording just one out.
A 10th run came in on a miscommunication between first baseman Tyler Macon and pitcher Keagen Kohlhoff in the bottom of the eighth. Kohlhoff fell while trying to retrieve a ball chopped down the line, allowing another run to score. Kohlhoff was relieved after that.
Bad luck also played a part. There were multiple occasions in which a ball dropped between two fielders and allowed a Lion to reach base.
After the Tigers loaded the bases with two singles and a walk in the first, left fielder Cameron Benson ripped a single to the right side, scoring two runners. Mizzou’s next run came in the eighth when designated hitter Jase Woita scored on a sacrifice fly from Benson.
Mizzou also scratched out another run with an RBI groundout from second baseman Blaize Ward in the two-run eighth.
The Tigers failed to capitalize on a bases-loaded opportunity in the fifth. Mizzou loaded the bases without a hit, two hit-by-pitches and a walk, but a pitching change to Lindenwood’s Luke Wright got Benson to fly out to end the inning.
“Mentally, we just weren’t there,” Jackson said. “We didn’t have good at-bats and we made some bad plays on defense, didn’t capitalize on some opportunities.”
The Lions erased two of the Mizzou base runners on failed steal attempts and faced the minimum in four separate innings. The Tigers struck out eight times in the matchup and left eight runners on base.
Mizzou (17-9) will return to Taylor Stadium to face No. 23 Texas A&M at 6 p.m. Friday in Columbia. Left-hander Javyn Pimental will have the ball to start.