Missouri Baseball Drops Second Home Game 3-1 to Northern Kentucky

A three-run homer in the first inning breaks Missouri's chance at their first home win.

In game one of the face-off of black and gold, Northern Kentucky University came out on top.

Despite having a better day overall, Missouri’s pitching woes in the first inning ended up being the downfall of the Tigers in their second-straight home loss. All of the runs in 3-1 loss came in the first inning.

In their last game against Southeast Missouri state, the Tigers went to the bullpen seven times for relief pitching. The Tigers pitching looked much stronger in this game and were able to limit it to just one trip this game and their two pitchers combined for 11 strikeouts and four hits. 

After a walk and a catcher’s interference to put two on, Missouri’s right-handed starter Bryce Mayer definitely wasn’t having the start he wanted. He then gave the Norse’s Jake Paulick a pitch he could hit, which resulted in a three-run homer over the wall in left center only one out into the game. But Missouri’s pitching trouble didn’t last long.

After a 42-pitch first inning, Mayer was not likely to go long into the second inning if he didn't get out of it quickly. Fortunately for the Tigers, he did. Mayer followed up his poor first with solid performances in the following innings. He punched out the side in the second and got three quick outs in both the third, fourth and fifth to keep the game close. Mayer racked up six strikeouts and limited Northern Kentucky to two hits and two walks through his five innings pitched.

For their first trip to the bullpen in this game, Missouri went with a player that has so far only been used as a starter. After a win against CSU Bakersfield, junior left-hander Javyn Pimental made his second appearance of the season as a reliever.

Pimental kept the scoreless streak going. He struck out a career-high five batters through four innings pitched and only gave up two hits. But Missouri’s offense wasn’t able to give him any run support.

The Tigers got on the board in the first inning when Tucker Moore hit a lead-off double and Trevor Austin put up a sacrifice bunt to move him to third, a sacrifice bunt brought him home. Drew Culbertson tried to spark a late inning comeback with a single and two stolen bases in the bottom of the eighth, but a Thomas Curry strikeout ended the inning.

After striking out in many at-bats over the last couple games, the Tigers still struggled at the plate. They combined for 11 strikeouts in this game, with their average being 11.6 so far this season.

Missouri’s record drops to 4-5 and Northern Kentucky improves to 3-6. The Tigers are back in action March 2 at 2 p.m. for game two against the Norse. 

The Pitching Experiment Gone Wrong for Missouri Baseball

How it Happened: 

• Missouri drops their second home game 3-1 to Northern Kentucky.
• Jackson Lovich is hit by a pitch in the bottom of the ninth. 
• Drew Culbertson singled and stole second and then third in the bottom of the eighth.
• Pimental induces a grounder back to the mound to end the inning and strand two on for the Norse. 
• A wild pitch puts Cleary Simpson on third after his single to left and a walk puts two on with two out in the top of the eighth. 
• The umpires originally called Brennan Rowe out at first to end the inning, but then overturned it. The Tigers quickly got the out back with a caught-stealing of Rowe.
• Junior left-hander Javyn Pimental comes in to pitch for the Tigers. This is his first relief appearance of the season after his win against CSU Bakersfield. 
• The game has turned into a pitcher's duel. No runs have been scored since the first inning
• After a three-run first, Mayer has not allowed another run through four inning.
• The bottom of the second went a lot like the top of the first. Missouri got two players on via walks and a groundout advanced them. The Tigers continued to struggle getting players home, leaving two on this inning. 
• Mayer followed up his poor first inning pitching performance with a stellar second by striking out the side.
• Left-fielder Tucker Moore followed up his offensive performance from last game with a lead-off double in the bottom of the first. Second baseman Trevor Austin put up a sacrifice bunt to advance Moore to third and a wild pitch brought him home. 3-1 Norse
• Bryce Mayer got the game started inducing a quick ground out, but then the next two batters to get on base with a walk and a catcher's interference before Mayer gave up a three-run home run to Jake Paulick. 3-0 Norse

Missouri	Northern Kentucky
Tucker Moore, LF	Tyler Shaneyfelt, CF
Trevor Austin, 2B	Cleary Simpson, 2B
Thomas Curry, DH	Liam McFadden-Ackman, 1B
Mateo Serna, C	Jake Paulick, C
Jackson Lovich, 1B	Treyvin Moss, RF
Danny Corona, 3B	Mitch Wood, 3B
Jeric Curtis, CF	Logen Devenport, LF
Kaden Peer, RF	John Odom, DH
Drew Culbertson, SS	Brennan Rowe, SS
Bryce Mayer, SP	Tanner Gillis, SP

---

What: Missouri Tigers (4-4) at Northern Kentucky Norse (2-6)

Where: Taylor Stadium, Columbia, Mo.

When: 

• Friday, March 1 at 6 p.m. CT
• Saturday, March 2 at 2 p.m. CT
• Sunday, March 3 at 1 p.m. CT

Watch: ESPN+

Series: This is the first meeting between Northern Kentucky and Missouri

Last time out, Northern Kentucky: The Norse dropped a single game at home against Morehead State 7-5. NKU is on a five-game losing streak coming into their series against the Tigers.

Last time out, Missouri: The Tigers dropped their home opener to Southeast Missouri State 8-3 in a weather-shortened game. Missouri was not able to overcome a grand slam given up in the fifth inning, but did claw their way back from an 8-0 SEMO lead and put themselves on the board before the game was called.

Pitching Matchups:

• Friday, March 1 at 6 p.m. - RHP Bryce Mayer vs. TBD
• Saturday, March 2 at 2 p.m. – RHP Carter Rustad vs. TBD
• Sunday, March 3 at 1 p.m. – RHP Logan Lunceford vs. TBD