Mizzou allows nine unanswered runs, falls in series opener to South Carolina

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Mizzou Baseball's SEC losing skid has now reached five consecutive games. Kerrick Jackson's crew lost its series opener against South Carolina 10-2 after getting outscored 9-0 in the final seven innings.

After Friday's action, the Tigers are still in 13th place in the SEC standings but are now two games behind both LSU and Ole Miss, who are tied for the final two spots in the conference tournament. Mizzou's SEC record is now 6-16 this season.

South Carolina took an early 1-0 lead on an RBI single from Talmadge LeCroy in the second inning, but MU responded in the home half of the frame by blasting back-to-back home runs off the bats of Mateo Serna and Jackson Lovich. However, after the Tigers grabbed that 2-1 lead, the Gamecocks rattled off nine unanswered runs on two home runs, an RBI double, a pair of RBI singles and a fielding error.

Mizzou posted six hits in the contest, led by a multi-hit effort from Lovich. However, the Tigers struck out 17 times and left 12 runners stranded on base. Meanwhile, South Carolina recorded nine hits, including six hits with runners in scoring position.

Logan Lunceford was charged with the loss after giving up four earned runs on four hits while striking out six batters over five frames. Jacob Peaden relieved Lunceford in the sixth inning and allowed six runs but five of them were unearned. Victor Quinn also tossed a clean scoreless frame out of the bullpen.

Up next - MU will aim to even its series with South Carolina on Saturday, May 4 at 3 p.m.