Mizzou allows 15 unanswered runs, loses series opener to Texas
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Mizzou Baseball's struggles on the mound have haunted the team again.
The Tigers (9-15) dropped their series opener 15-4 in seven innings to No. 7 Texas (21-3), remaining winless in SEC action through seven games.
MU's pitching staff has surrendered 88 earned runs in its last eight outings, bumping its SEC-worst team ERA to 8.03 on the season.
Texas hit home runs in each of the first five frames in Friday night's contest, including two from Will Gasparino who finished 3-for-5 with eight RBI's. Collectively, the Longhorns charged the Tigers with 15 unanswered runs through those five innings, highlighted by a seven-run third frame where Texas recorded 13 at-bats.
Offensively, Mizzou dealt all of its damage at the dish in the sixth inning. MU scored four runs in the frame, courtesy of a sacrifice fly from Mateo Serna, an RBI single from Brady Picarelli and a two-RBI double from Kaden Peer. However, it was not enough to avoid a run-rule defeat.
Peer ended the game with two hits and two RBI's to lead the Tigers. Picarelli, Isaiah Frost, Keegan Knutson and Tyler Macon tallied the team's remaining four hits.
Ian Lohse, who exited the game in the third inning with a trainer, was charged with the loss, allowing five earned runs on three hits with three strikeouts during his start. Mizzou's pitchers gave up 14 combined earned runs, 11 hits and eight walks in Friday's contest.
Up next - Mizzou wraps up its three-game series against Texas with a doubleheader on Saturday, March 29. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Taylor Stadium.
