Mizzou offense goes quiet in rubber match, loses series against LSU
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Mizzou Baseball dropped its series finale against LSU 6-2 on Sunday at Taylor Stadium, following a lackluster afternoon at the dish. The hometown Tigers fall to 6-12 in SEC play and currently sit in a tie for 12th place in the conference standings, holding a narrow one-game lead over the Baton Rouge Tigers for the final spot in the SEC Tournament.
"We're going to play a number of those teams that we're potentially fighting to get in the tournament over, so if you play good baseball, you put ourselves in a good position where we're in the postseason and unfortunately we didn't respond well," Kerrick Jackson said after Sunday's loss.
You can watch the full postgame press conference with Mizzou baseball coach Kerrick Jackson in the video player below.
Mizzou posted just six hits, all singles, in the rubber match against LSU. As a team, the hometown Tigers struck out 13 times and ended the game 0-7 with runners in scoring position. This performance comes after Jackson and company scored eight runs on 10 hits in game two of the series.
"It really comes down to the offensive side of things and making sure that we're a little bit more consistent with what we're doing there. We have some really good offensive outings, and then, out of nowhere, we just go blank and we're not facing any better pitching in those situations," Jackson said. "It's just about where their mind is at and what we can get them to concentrate and focus on moving forward."
MU took the game's first lead in the third inning, capitalizing on a fielding error to plate two runs. However, LSU tied the game in the fifth frame on a two-RBI double from Paxton Kling and took its first lead on a bases loaded walk issued by Bryce Mayer in the sixth inning. The Baton Rouge Tigers proceeded to pad their lead by scoring one run in each of the final three frames of the game to hand Mizzou a series loss.
Brock Daniels recorded MU's lone multi-hit performance in the game and Jackson Lovich posted the team's lone RBI. Trevor Austin, Jedier Hernandez, Matt Garcia and Jeric Curtis also tallied hits for Mizzou.
Four different Tigers pitched in Sunday's series finale. Ian Lohse started on the mound and pitched three scoreless innings while allowing just one hit. Mayer was charged with the loss after tossing just one frame, giving up one run on two hits and two walks. Jacob Peaden and St. Elizabeth alum Brock Lucas each allowed two earned runs in their respective relief outings. Mizzou's pitching staff only posted a combined six strikeouts in this contest.
Up next - Mizzou closes out its home-and-home series with Show Me State rival Missouri State on Tuesday, April 23. First pitch for that game at Taylor Stadium is scheduled for 6 p.m.
