Horn dazzles on mound, Mizzou unable to outlast Georgia

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Mizzou Baseball is still waiting to topple its first SEC foe of the season.

Despite three shutout innings from starting pitcher Sam Horn, the Tigers (13-33) could not protect its two-run lead over No. 9 Georgia (38-11), leading to a 5-2 loss at Taylor Stadium. With Saturday's loss, Mizzou's SEC losing streak has reached 23 consecutive games.

MU's pitching staff shined for seven frames, but its struggles in the middle innings costed them a chance to end its winless conference season. Horn did not allow any runs or hits in his three-inning start and struck out a career-high five batters. Brock Lucas also delivered 3.1 shutout innings out of the bullpen, giving up zero hits and recording five strikeouts in relief.

However, Georgia charged Tony Neubeck and PJ Green with four combined runs in the sixth inning, making the difference in the outcome. The Bulldogs batted through the lineup but only recorded one hit in that frame, which featured a two-run home run from Daniel Jackson, five walks and one hit by pitch.

Cayden Nicoletto supplied all of the team's offense with a first-inning, two-run home run that gave the Tigers their initial 2-0 lead. The Columbia College transfer has hit six home runs this season.

Kaden Peer finished with two of MU's four hits, and Mateo Serna tallied one of the team's two extra base hits in the contest. Collectively, the Tigers struck out 14 times in the contest.

Up next - Mizzou will aim to avoid its eighth SEC sweep of the season in Sunday's series finale at 1 p.m.