Missouri Baseball Drops First Game Against Purdue Fort Wayne

Two home runs in the top of the ninth secure the Tigers 9-7 loss to the Mastodons in series-opener.

Home runs made the difference in the game.

Missouri dropped the first game of their home series against Purdue Fort Wayne in a 9-7 late inning battle. Purdue Fort Wayne put up three home runs in the game to give them their win.

Bryce Mayer struck out the side a batter two late. One batter sooner, the score would have remained 0-0 heading into the second. Unfortunately, the batter he wished ended the inning sent a three-run homer over the left field wall. The Tigers would have to fight back from beneath.

After a clean second inning, the Tigers fell back into the trap and gave up two more runs in the third. A pair of doubles and a triple gave the Mastodons their four run lead over Missouri. Mayer put up three shutout innings after that to hold on to the Tigers chances.

Missouri scratched their way back from a four-run deficit to cut the lead to one. A run in the first and third brought the Tigers back in the game and then their two-run sixth gave them a chance to come back.

Missouri went to the bullpen for Josh McDevitt who put up a shutout inning in the seventh. Going back to the bullpen didn’t really go well for the Tigers. Their usual ace, Ian Lohse, loaded the bases in the top of the eighth and allowed a run to score from a sacrifice fly.

A three-run eighth put the Tigers on top for the first time in the game. Tucker Moore singles and Trevor Austin sent a home run over the left field wall to tie the game. A pitcher’s change for the Mastodons resulted in the Tigers putting two on. A single from Mateo Serna brought the winning run in and gave the Tigers their first lead of the game.

The lead didn’t last long, however. Lohse broke up Missouri’s chances of a series-opening win by giving up two home runs in the top of the ninth to renew the Mastodon’s lead.

Despite their loss, Missouri should be thankful for the return of Matt Garcia. After being out for the first couple weeks of the season due to a hand injury, Garcia made his return in the Tiger’s mid-week game against Lindenwood. At shortstop against the Mastodons, Garcia put up two assists and was key in many plays. He also put up a hit, two runs and a stolen base.

Missouri drops to 6-7 on the season and the Mastodons improve to 5-9. The Tigers will take the field for the first game of their doubleheader at 12 p.m. CT on Saturday, March 9.

How to Watch: Missouri Baseball vs Purdue Fort Wayne

How it Happened:

• Justin Osterhouse sent his second home run out of the park in the top of the ninth to extend the Mastodons lead. 9-7 Mastodons
• The Mastodons Grant Thoroman bat-flipped on his way to first after taking the lead with a two-run homer in the top of the ninth. 8-7 Mastodons
•  Mateo Serna sends a ball back through the pitchers legs to bring Jackson Lovich home in the bottom of the eighth. 7-6 Tigers
•  Trevor Austin tied the game with a two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth 6-6
• Ian Lohse loaded the bases in the top of the eight, but only allowed one run to score on a sacrifice fly. 6-4 Mastodons
• Missouri goes back to the pen for Ian Lohse in the top of the eighth.
• Missouri goes to the pen for Josh McDevitt in the top of the seventh. He struck out two and and walked one for a shutout relief inning. 
• The Mastodon's bring in Sean Kasper to pitch in relief in the bottom of the sixth with two outs. 
• Danny Corona sent a sacrifice fly to the right fielder to give Jackson Lovich time to trot over home. 5-4 Mastodons
• Jackson Lovich hit a triple off the top of the wall to bring in Trevor Austin. 5-3 Mastodons
• A Trevor Austin double brought Matt Garcia home after Garcia got on with a single and advanced with a Tucker Moore hit-by-pitch. 5-2 Mastodons
• Two doublse and a triple in the top of the third extends Purdue Fort Wayne's lead. over the Tigers. 5-1 Mastodons
•  Bryce Mayer catches a comebacker to end the top of the second. 
• Matt Garcia walked and then stole second. He then came around to score on a Thomas Curry double. 3-1 Mastodons
• Mayer strikes out the side one batter two late.
• Bryce Mayer lets two on before Justin Osterhouse sent the ball out of the park to give PWF an early lead. 3-0 Mastodons
• First pitch is set for 3 p.m. CT. 

Missouri	Purdue Fort Wayne
Matt Garcia, SS	Jacob Walker, 2B
Tucker Moore, LF	Camden Karczewski, SS
Trevor Austin, 2B	Grant Thoroman, CF
Thomas Curry, DH	Nick Sutherlin, 3B
Jackson Lovich, 1B	Justin Osterhouse, 1B
Danny Corona, 3B	Ben Higgins, LF
RJ Jimerson, RF	Colton Shirley, DH
Mateo Serna, C	Nate Simpson, RF
Jeric Curtis, CF	Brooks Sailors, C
Bryce Mayer, SP	Mac Ayres, SP

How to Watch Missouri vs Purdue Fort Wayne:

What: Missouri Tigers (6-6) at Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons (4-9)

Where: Taylor Stadium, Columbia, Mo.

When:

• Friday, March 8 at 3 p.m. CT
• Saturday, March 9 at 12 p.m. CT (Doubleheader)
• Sunday, March 10 at 1 p.m. CT

Watch: ESPN+

Series: Missouri has only played Purdue Fort Wayne one other time. The Tigers dropped that game to the Mastodons 11-8 on March 1, 2014.

Last time out, Purdue Fort Wayne: The Mastodons earned a 12-10 win over Butler University with the help of a nine-run seventh inning.

Last time out, Missouri: The earned their second home win of the year against Lindenwood. Despite some trouble in the ninth inning, Missouri was able to hold on to their 5-4 lead.