Mizzou struggles in season opener, falls to Penn State

CAGUAS, Puerto Rico (KMIZ)

Mizzou Baseball's second season under head coach Kerrick Jackson started on a sour note.

The Tigers (0-1) dropped their first game of the 2025 campaign 10-0 to Penn State (1-0) in the first of three contests at the inaugural Puerto Rico Challenge.

Ian Lohse limited Penn State's offense during his four-inning start, giving up just one earned run off a solo home run from Matt Maloney in the second inning. Lohse also allowed just three hits and struck out a career-high eight batters.

However, Brock Lucas struggled in relief of Lohse. Penn State posted a pair of four-run frames during the St. Elizabeth graduate's 2.2 innings of work, hitting two home runs off the right-handed pitcher to help build a double-digit lead. Lucas was charged with six earned runs on eight hits.

MU's offense was unable to put a dent into Penn State's lead, posting just two hits and striking out 13 times in the contest. Blake Simpson and Pierre Seals each recorded a hit in Friday's shutout defeat.

Up next - Mizzou resumes action at the Puerto Rico Challenge with a showdown against UConn on Saturday, Feb. 15 at 3 p.m.