issouri baseball loses in 10 innings to a sacrifice fly despite a dominant pitching performance from Brock Lucas
Coming back from a tough series at No.1 Arkansas, Missouri Baseball was looking to regain their momentum against Kansas. Prior to the Arkansas series, the two teams faced off in Kansas, and Missouri came up with a 5-4 win.
Looking to claim the season series, both teams traveled to Kauffman Stadium — home of the Kansas City Royals.
Starting the game, Kansas loaded the bases with a walk and two batters that were hit by a pitch. Freshman pitcher Josh McDevitt quickly shut it down with a strikeout to get Missouri out of the early situation. The Tigers could not respond as they went three up, and three down in the bottom half of the inning.
Kansas carried their momentum to the next inning with a double from senior outfielder Janson Reeder. The senior advanced to third with a flyout the next at-bat then brought in by a triple down the line from junior outfielder Chase Jans. Jans stretched the lead with a sacrifice fly, and Kansas ended their rally with a third flyout.
With no luck in the bottom of the second, Missouri got on the board the next inning. With two outs, sophomore infielder Jackson Lovich flipped the script with a triple to left field. Lovich scored the next pitch with an RBI single from freshman catcher Thomas Curry, making the game 2-1 Kansas.
The fourth inning was scoreless as each team went three and out. Kansas disrupted the rhythm as they loaded the bases again in the top of the fifth, Missouri went to the bullpen and brought out sophomore Brock Lucas. He unfortunately walked the batter, scoring senior outfielder John Nett, but ended the inning getting two flyouts. After strong pitching from Lucas, Missouri was down 3-1.
Sophomore outfielder Jeric Curtis started the inning for Missouri, getting on base with a bunt. Curtis advanced to second after a groundout and a flyout. With two outs, Curtis attempted to steal third, and a wild throw from the catcher allowed him to go all the way home. The next at-bat Lovich got to a full count and hit his sixth home run of the season, tying the game 3-3.
The next 4 innings were commanded by pitching. Lucas would limit batters on base, striking out five. He allowed two batters on base in the ninth due to a throwing error and a walk. Lucas got pulled after the walk, bringing in graduate Ryan Magdic. Already with two outs, Magdic made his first batter pop up and sent the game to the 10th inning.
Kansas started off the extra innings with a double to right field by senior catcher Jake English. Junior outfielder Tyler Gerety would come in to run for English and would score after two flyouts, gaining a base on each one.
Down by one, Missouri needed a run to stay in the game. Curry would get on base quickly, getting hit by a pitch. With no outs and one on, freshman catcher Tucker Moore popped out, and graduate infielder Matt Garcia grounded out into a double play. The Tigers lost the game 4-3, splitting the series with Kansas.
Edited by Dylan Heinrich
Copy Edited by Grace KnightEdited by Genevieve Smith | gsmith@themaneater.com