Missouri baseball closed out its first series of the 2022 campaign with a thrilling comeback victory. After the Nicholls State Colonels jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the first inning, the Tigers responded with six unanswered runs over the sixth, seventh and eighth innings to close out a 7-4 victory.
Redshirt junior infielder Luke Mann went 2-4 on Monday with 3 RBI’s on a double to left center field, which gave the Tigers their first lead of the day and broke a 4-4 tie at Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field in Thibodaux, Louisiana.
“Well, that was big,” Missouri head coach Steve Beiser said following Monday’s victory. “That was key for us. We hit adversity in the first inning and we were able to bounce back. Good to see the resiliency that the team stuck to and nothing came easy today.
Monday’s victory gave the Tigers a series victory over the Colonels and improved Missouri to 3-1, which is the Tigers best start since the 2018 season.
This series started on Friday evening when the Tigers’ bats came alive in a 12-1 blowout victory. Sophomore infielder and Jefferson City native Trevor Austin got the party started with the Tigers first home run of the season on a two-run shot into left field in the second inning.
Mann and junior infielder Ty Wilmsmeyer homered as well. Columbia natives junior right handed pitcher Spencer Miles and senior catcher Tre Morris performed well in their season debuts. Miles gave up just one run in four innings before being replaced by redshirt sophomore right handed pitcher Kyle Potthoff, who closed the deal for the Tigers while Morris knocked in 2 RBI’s for the Tigers.
Game two on Saturday followed a different script but produced the same results. After racing out to a 4-0 lead, Nicholls State fought back within two runs. Facing two outs in the top of the sixth inning, Missouri blew the game wide open. Austin capitalized on a throwing error by reaching home to extend Missouri’s lead. Sophomore outfielder Ross Lovich’s RBI single brought home another Missouri run, and one batter later, senior infielder Josh Day homered into right center field to give the Tigers a 8-2 lead.
“I mean we got to the point [where] they tightened it up to 4-2, and we’re kind of starting to line up our top guys in the bullpen to be ready to go get this thing,” Beiser said following game two, “then, all of a sudden, with two outs again, the team really responds.”
Freshman outfielder Carlos Peña, who went 2-4 with 2 RBI’s, led off a 6-run inning for the Tigers in the seventh inning with a two-run double down the infield line. The mercy rule came into effect for the second night in a row after seven innings as the Tigers closed out game two with a 14-2 victory.
Nicholls State defeated the Tigers in game three. Missouri fell behind 6-3, but RBI’s by Austin and Day alongside a sacrifice fly by Peña put the Tigers up 8-6. The Colonels scored three unanswered in the 7th, giving them an eventual 9-8 victory. Missouri avenged Sunday’s loss with Monday’s comeback victory.
Missouri is still on the road as they are in Monroe, Louisiana taking on the UL-Monroe WarHawks Feb. 25.
Edited by Brandon Haynes | bhaynes@themaneater.com