Mizzou splits series with Binghamton, drops to .500 heading into SEC play

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

For the second-straight weekend, the Mizzou baseball team failed to capitalize on an opportunity for a series win in Sunday afternoon action. The Tigers fell 5-2 to Binghamton in seven innings to split the series, 2-2.

After an offensive explosion against the Bearcats on Saturday, where MU plated a combined 20 runs in two games, the bats went cold in the finale, as Binghamton ended up out-hitting the Tigers 9-4.

The Bearcats took a one-run lead to start the game, but head coach Kerrick Jackson's team responded thanks to a leadoff double off the bat of Gehrig Goldbeck. He ended up coming home on a sacrifice grounder to first base from Mateo Serna to tie the game at one run apiece.

However, it was all Binghamton after that. A four-run second inning was all head coach Tim Sinkicki's team ended up needing to seal the deal on their second win over the Tigers this weekend.

MU did manage to cut the deficit to just three runs in sixth inning, as former Columbia College star Cayden Nicoletto knocked out his second home run of the year to make it a 5-2 ball game. But, at that point, it was too little too late. No other Tigers could get their bats going, as Goldbeck, Nicoletto and Jackson Lovich were the only guys to register a hit on Sunday.

Jackson's pitching staff, once again, struggled at the start of the game, but the Mizzou defense left something to be desired, as well. Starting pitcher Kaden Jacobi was handed the loss to drop to 2-1 on the year, after letting two earned runs go on four hits. In total, five runs crossed the plate in his two innings of work, one of which was on an error from second baseman Peyton Basler.

After Jacobi was pulled, MU threw three more pitchers in the game. Both Brady Kehlenbrnk and Ben Smith worked for two innings, while PJ Green closed out the final inning for Jackson. That trio of pitchers didn't allow any more runs to cross home plate, but they didn't get the much-needed help from the offense to mount a comeback effort.

With the loss, Mizzou dropped to .500 on the season, 8-8, heading into Southeastern Conference action.

Up next - the Tigers will open up conference play on the road against No. 1 LSU for a three-game set. First pitch in the series opener is set for Friday, March 14 at 6:30 p.m. in Baton Rouge.