Mizzou stumbles in extra innings, loses series opener

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Mizzou Baseball entered the 11th inning locked in a 3-3 tie with Kentucky on Friday night but struggled in the final frame of the game. The Tigers allowed a six-run inning, leading to a 9-4 loss to the Wildcats in their series opener at Taylor Stadium.

After falling behind 2-0 in the first inning following a two-RBI single from Mitchell Daly, Thomas Curry cut Mizzou's deficit to just one run in the home half of the frame with a solo home run into the left field bullpen. A fielder's choice in the fourth inning put Kentucky back in front by two runs, but Kerrick Jackson's crew tied the game 3-3 and forced extra innings after scoring twice on a pair of wild pitches in the seventh frame.

Both teams failed to score in the 10th inning, but the Wildcats put the game out of reach in the next frame. Kentucky capitalized on four hits and a Mizzou fielding error to score six runs in the 11th inning to eventually hand the Tigers their fourth SEC loss of the season.

Logan Lunceford pitched seven innings, allowing three runs on five hits while also posting four strikeouts. Carter Rustad tossed three scoreless frames to start his relief appearance but was given the loss after giving up that six-run inning to Kentucky.

Game two of this three-game set is scheduled to start on Saturday, March 23 at 3 p.m.