Coming off a series sweep against the University of Tennessee Martin, Missouri Baseball remained home for its fourth SEC series of the season against No. 4 Florida. The Tigers continued their winning ways, upsetting the Gators with three consecutive games.

Missouri emerged victorious in the first game after 11 innings, winning 2-1. The Missouri pitching showed off, holding Florida to two hits the entire game. 

The game started off with Missouri getting an early run in the first inning. Sophomore outfielder Jeric Curtis led off with a triple down the line and scored the next at-bat with a ground out from sophomore outfielder Jackson Beaman. 

The Tigers held a 1-0 lead through seven innings thanks to their pitching. Sophomore starter Logan Lunceford pitched until the seventh inning, striking out eight batters and walking two. The only hit Florida made in the first seven innings was in the top of the fourth from junior first-baseman Jac Caglianone

In the top of the seventh, the Tigers brought out fifth-year pitcher Carter Rustad who started with a quick three-outs. In the next inning, Florida evened things out as sophomore lead-off batter Luke Heyman tied the game with a home run to left field.

Still knotted at one after nine innings, the game was sent to extras.

In the bottom of the 11th, Missouri found their momentum. Sophomore outfielder Jackson Lovich doubled to left field and freshman outfielder Kaden Peer was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. Junior catcher Jedier Hernandez hit a single that got through the infield, bringing in Lovich and walking Florida off 2-1.

Missouri secured a 4-3 win in game two. This game saw more scoring between the two teams.

Curtis started things off for Missouri again with a single on the first pitch and stealing second on the next at-bat. After six pitches with a full count, Beaman was walked and senior infielder Trevor Austin advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt. A pitch with two outs sent Curtis home to score and Beaman to third. Peer singled to left field, bringing in Beaman and making it a 2-0 Missouri lead in the first inning.

Florida would not score until the top of the fifth. Sophomore catcher Brody Donay got hit by a pitch to get on base, advancing to second from a balk. Donay made it to third from a groundout and raced home after a single from senior outfielder Jaylen Guy, making it 2-1.

When the sixth inning rolled around, Missouri switched pitchers to sophomore Brock Lucas. Florida’s sophomore infielder Cade Kurland singled on the first pitch. Caglianone smacked the second pitch, homering to right field and giving Florida a 3-2 lead.

Missouri matched Florida’s pace in the bottom of the sixth. Austin singled to left field before Lovich walked, sending players to first and second. Hernandez hit a single through the middle bringing Austin home and getting Lovich to third. In the next at-bat, Lovich scored from a wild pitch to give the Tigers a lead once again. 

The closest Florida got to tying the game was in the seventh inning. Sophomore outfielder Landon Russel ripped a triple down the line to put him in an early scoring position with one out. Lucas shut this chance down with two strikeouts, ultimately winning the game for Missouri 4-3.

Missouri completed the sweep with an 11-10 win after another walk-off. 

The Tigers started strong in the first inning during the third game of the series. Beaman and Austin both started the game off with one-out walks . A ground out from Lovich moved the runners to third and second. Beaman scored from a wild pitch before Peer walked. Hernandez brought the two runners in with an RBI double, getting to third on a wild pitch the next at-bat. Garcia slipped an RBI single to make it an early 4-0 Missouri lead.

Florida got on the board the next inning with a home run from Heyman. This run was overshadowed by another three runs from Missouri as Beaman, Austin and Lovich singled and scored. 

The third inning consisted of a three-run home run from Florida’s sophomore infielder Colby Shelton. This single swing cut the Gators deficit to three. 

The Tigers responded with one run in the fourth inning. Austin was hit by the first pitch in his at-bat, making it home after a ground out from Lovich and a single from Peer.

Florida snagged the lead after six straight runs in the top of the sixth Caglianone hit a two-run home run to make it 8-6. Shelton led off the seventh inning with a single and advanced after Heyman was hit by a pitch. Senior outfielder Tyler Shelnut scored Shelton with a double, and Heyman scored later in the inning after a walk to tie the game 8-8. 

In the top of the eighth, Shelton hit a two-run homer to left field, giving the Gators a 10-8 lead.

Missouri was able to get runners on third base in both the bottom of the seventh and eighth, but was unable to bring them in. 

Florida loaded the bases in the top of the ninth after a single and two batters got hit by a pitch. Missouri graduate pitcher Jacob Peaden prevented any scoring by striking out the next three batters. 

Down by two, Missouri started the bottom of the ninth with Peer and Hernandez walking. Freshman catcher Tucker Moore came in to run for Hernandez after he got on base. Garcia laid down a bunt to advance the two runners to second and third. The next at-bat, a wild pitch scored Peer to bring the game within one run. 

Sophomore infielder Brock Daniels doubled into right field, bringing in Moore to tie the game 10-10. An early wild pitch in Curtis’ at-bat pushed Daniels to third. Curtis sent a single to center field, scoring Daniels and walking off Florida for the second time in the series.

A series sweep brings the Tigers to a record of 15-18 and bumps up their winning streak to five games.

Copy edited by Grace Knight and Hannah Taylor | gknight@themaneater.com

Edited by Genevieve Smith | gsmith@themaneater.com