Missouri Baseball Fails to Secure a Comeback in 16-15 Loss to Northern Kentucky

The Tigers drop their first home series of the year to the Norse in a battle of the bats.

Missouri had to get warmed up in their final game against Northern Kentucky, but they weren’t able to secure the comeback.

The Tigers dropped their first home series to Northern Kentucky with a 16-15 loss in the third game of the series. They came back from a nine-run deficit but weren’t able to keep the lead in the ninth.

Missouri’s first couple innings weren't nearly as eventful as game two, but the Tigers were able to put up two runs and take the lead. It was the fifth and sixth inning in this game that were the eventful ones.

After a loud game from the Missouri bats the day before, they were relatively quiet in the first couple innings. Nobody really expected them to have another 28-run game, but it wasn’t until the fifth and sixth inning that they were able to look like the team they were yesterday.

The Tigers fought back from a nine-run deficit in the middle of the fourth to give them a chance to regain the lead. Jackson Lovich and Thomas Curry combined for the two runs in the bottom of the fourth with back-to-back home runs to deep center. Missouri put up an even better fifth and sixth to scratch their way back to a one-run deficit with three innings left to play.

It was back-to-back walks in the sixth with the bases loaded that gave them the lead. But the Tigers’ explosive bats in the fifth and sixth inning that combined for 10 runs in the fifth and sixth innings is what made the difference. Missouri put up 12 hits for 15 runs and only struck out six times in the game.

The Tigers starter sophomore right-hander Logan Lunceford had a rough outing. After a lead-off triple and a sacrifice-fly, Lunceford was able to strike out the side to end the first. But it only got worse after that. Lunceford's second trip resulted in two more runs and a grand slam over the wall in left. He was taken out in the second inning for his shortest outing of the season.

Missouri then went to Brock Lucas on the mound, but he wasn't able to stop the Norse bats. Lucas allowed three more runs to score and Ryan Magdic let in two more. A combination of Ben Pedersen, Ian Lohse, Charlie Miller and Nic Smith limited Northern Kentucky to just two runs in their innings.

When the Tigers may have thought they had another win on their record, Jacob Peaden came in and gave up two runs to turn the lead over to Northern Kentucky. Missouri wasn’t able to secure the comeback in the bottom of the ninth.

Missouri was not able to help themselves with the comeback in the outfield. To be quite frank, Missouri’s defense struggled. The outfield dove for balls multiple times and couldn’t come up with it. With a man on third, Justin Colon held onto a ball after a hit instead of throwing it, allowing both players to be safe. In all the commotion, they surprisingly didn’t put up an error.

The sun was not on the Tigers' side. After a hit, players would scramble left and right before they settled and tried to catch it. Throughout the game they dropped three balls that should have been fairly easy outs due to the sun blinding them. One came in the outfield, one was behind the plate and the other was at third base. To state the obvious, catching these would have helped lessen the Norse’s lead in the early innings.

The Tigers record drops to 5-6 and Northern Kentucky improves to 4-7. Missouri continues their home stand against Lindenwood on Tuesday, March 5 at 3 p.m. CT. 

Missouri Baseball Run-Rules Northern Kentucky 28-10 for First Home Win

How it Happened: 

• A wild pitch from Jacob Peaden allows the Norse to take the lead again in the top of the ninth. 16-15 Norse
•  Northern Kentucky tied the game in the top of the ninth with a single and a double. 15-15 Tigers
• Nic Smith came in to the game with the bases loaded and gave up a sacrifice-fly. 15-14 Tigers
• Thomas Curry singled to left center and Trevor Austin scored in the bottom of the seventh. 15-13 Tigers 
• Ian Lohse comes in to pitch for the Tigers. He walked Cleary Simpson, who then stole second. Jake Paulick hit single up the middle to score Simpson. 14-13 Tigers
• Jedier Hernandez flied out to score Justin Colon, Jackson Beaman and Kaden Peer advance on a throwing error. 14-12 Tigers
• Nick McClanahan gives up back-to-back walks of Justin Colon and Kaden Peer with the bases loaded to give Missouri the lead in the bottom of the sixth. 13-12 Tigers
• Thomas Curry doubles to the left field wall to bring in two more runs. 12-11 Norse
• Nick McClanahan walks Jackson Lovich to load the bases with one out. 
• Nick McClanahan comes in to pitch in the bottom of the sixth for Northern Kentucky.
• Back-to-back singles through the gap on the left side put two on with one out in the bottom of the sixth. 
• The wind carries Jedier Hernandez's first home run of the season over the wall in center. 12-9 Norse
• Ben Pedersen comes in to pitch for the Tigers in the top of the sixth.
• Kaden Peer singled to score Thomas Curry. 12-8 Norse
• Thomas Curry reached on a throwing error and then takes second. Tucker Moore scores on the play but Trevor Austin is tagged out at home. 12-7 Norse
• Lovich flied out to centerfield, but its enough to score Drew Culbertson. 12-6 Norse
• Northern Kentucky goes to the bullpen with bases loaded for Ryan Pehrson.
• Trevor Austin singled to bring in Jedier Hernandez. 12-5 Norse
• Jedier Hernandez hit a ground-rule double over the wall in right, Drew Culbertson was hit-by-pitch and Tucker Moore singled to load the bases with no outs in the bottom of the fifth. 
• Mitch Wood sends a home run over the left field wall in the top of the fifth. 12-4 Norse
• Jackson Lovich and Thomas Curry go yard back-to-back to deep center. 11-4 Norse
• Tyler Shaneyfelt sent a ball to the center wall and Kaden Peer struggles to come up with it Kaden Peer fails a diving catch in the outfield, two run scores. 11-2 Norse
• Ryan Magdic comes in to pitch with one on and no outs in the top of the fourth.
• Missouri brought Brock Lucas into the game for relief, but he had a poor start allowing a single, walk and a double to score two. 9-2 Norse
•  Tucker Moore didn't even move as a Liam McFadden-Ackman sent a grand slam over the wall in left field. 7-2 Norse
• The Tigers are really struggling with the sun. Three balls that should have been caught were dropped. 
• The Norse regained the lead with a double to the left field wall. 3-2 Norse
• A wild pitch allows another run to score. 2-2
• Tyler Shaneyfelt squibs a sacrifice bunt to put runners on second and third.
• Pitching coach Tim Jamieson out to talk to Logan Lunceford after he gave up a single and a walk.
• Jackson Lovich grounds out to bring Trevor Austin home. 2-1 Tigers
• The Tigers put up a triple of their own from Trevor Austin to score a lead-off walk of Tucker Moore. 1-1 
• Logan Lunceford responded by punching out the next three batters. 
• Treyvin Moss gets a lead-off triple to the right center wall that Jackson Beaman wasn't able to catch. The Norse put the first run on the board with Cleary Simpson's sacrifice-fly. 1-0 Norse
• First pitch is set for 1 p.m. CT

Missouri	Northern Kentucky
Tucker Moore, LF	Treyvin Moss, RF
Trevor Austin, 2B	Cleary Simpson, 2B
Jackson Lovich, 1B	Liam McFadden-Ackman, 1B
Thomas Curry, DH	Jake Paulick, C
Justin Colon, 3B	Mitch Wood, 3B
Kaden Peer, CF	Logen Devenport, LF
Jackson Beaman, RF	John Odom, DH
Jedier Hernandez, C	Tyler Shaneyfelt, CF
Drew Culbertson, SS	Brennan Rowe, SS
Logan Lunceford, SP	Ben Gerl, SP

What: Missouri Tigers (5-5) at Northern Kentucky Norse (3-7)

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+