Missouri’s Saturday game against No. 9 Louisiana State (24–11, 8–6 SEC) was set to be a pitcher’s duel. The Missouri Tigers sent sophomore Tanner Houck, a top 2017 draft prospect, to the mound to take on All-American Alex Lange.
The game did not shake out as expected. The two starters combined to walk eight and allow 12 earned runs. Unfortunately for Missouri, (20–17, 4–10 SEC) eight of those were charged to Houck. Mizzou fell 9–5, lowering their record to 20–17 and 4–10 in Southeastern Conference play.
“I know a lot of people in the park … thought it was going to be the Tanner Houck and Alex Lange show,” sophomore left fielder Trey Harris said. “And that’s fine, because they definitely deserved it, but honestly both offenses doing what they did today just shows you how good the SEC is.”
LSU first got to Houck in the second inning. A Beau Jordan single made the score 1–0. The run snapped Houck’s streak of 20 scoreless innings.
The Missouri starter ran into trouble again the next inning. LSU put runners on first and third with nobody out. Houck, however, was able to work out of the jam. A strikeout, fly out and another strikeout kept the LSU lead at one.
Missouri struck back in the bottom of the third. Freshman Connor Brumfield started the frame with a single, then advanced to third after a ground ball and wild pitch. Senior Zach Lavy drew a walk to bring up Harris, who had just one hit in his last 16 at bats.
“Maybe I’ve been struggling a little bit this year, but anytime an (at bat) comes up, I feel like I can still get the job done,” Harris said.
And he did. Harris legged out an infield single to score Brumfield. Lange then walked the next two batters to bring in another run, making the score 2–1 Missouri.
The lead did not last long. With one on and two outs, LSU freshman Chris Reid tied the game with a single. Sophomore Michael Papierski walked, and freshman Antoine Duplantis cleared the bases with a triple to give LSU a 4–2 lead.
Sophomore catcher Brett Bond got a run back for the Tigers with a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth.
“I didn’t try to hit it out, just tried to be short and quick to it and got it,” he said.
The Tigers weren’t done with the long ball. Harris tied the game in the fifth with a solo shot.
“That ball was a no-doubter,” Harris said.
Houck ran into more trouble in the seventh inning. He loaded the bases, then walked Bryce Jordan to give LSU a one-run lead. He was replaced by redshirt freshman Liam Carter.
On Carter’s second pitch, Beau Jordan ripped a grand slam over the left field wall.
“There’s no question, if you get a big hit like that, that stage in the game, it’s hard to overcome,” coach Tim Jamieson said.
Lavy doubled home a run in the ninth to make the score 9–5, but that was all the Tigers were able to get.
Missouri and LSU are back in action at 1 p.m. Sunday.
_Edited by Tyler Kraft | tkraft@themaneater.com_
