Returning home after a three-game series at Vanderbilt, Missouri baseball was on a five-game losing streak. They were set up for a comeback with a quick two-game series against the University of Tennessee at Martin.

The first game started with a quick 2-1 run. Missouri led in the first inning as sophomore outfielders Jeric Curtis and Jackson Beaman got on base with singles to left field. Curtis advanced to third after a pop fly, then stole home to score. Beaman stole second and third base, scoring after an overthrow from the catcher on his attempt to steal third.

Missouri added to their lead in the bottom of the third, which started with freshman outfielder Kaden Peer getting walked. After stealing second, senior third baseman Trevor Austin brought Peer home with an RBI single. The pitcher overthrew,  allowing Austin to advance to second base. Another RBI single from sophomore DH Brock Daniels brought in Austin, and graduate infielder Matt Garcia brought in the final run with a single making it a 5-1 lead for Missouri moving into the fourth.

UT Martin showed signs of life in the top of the fourth with senior infielder Andrew Fernandez and junior infielder Blaze Bell both hitting home runs to make it 5-3. The Skyhawks had the opportunity to score more with runners on third and second but sophomore pitcher Daniel Wissler then got two quick strikeouts to halt the damage.

From then on Missouri didn’t look back, bringing in sophomore pitcher Brock Lucas in the fifth inning. He would go on to throw three strikeouts and not allow any batters on base the next two innings. Missouri also brought in graduate Jacob Peaden in the seventh inning; he only allowed one hit and would finish the game for the Tigers.

The Tigers scored eight runs in the next four innings, among them were home runs from Beaman and Daniels. To end the game, the Tigers scored the last three of their runs in a rally that included Beaman, Daniels and Peer. Missouri took the first game 13-3.

The second game saw another high offensive output — from both teams this time. Missouri got another early lead in the first two innings. Curtis and Austin were walked, and Garcia and Daniels both hit RBI singles to bring them in. Garcia would then score on a groundout from junior outfielder Juju Stevens and Daniels scored on a single from freshman catcher Mateo Serna. 

The scoring continued into the second with Peer knocking in a homer and Austin hitting a double and scoring on the next at-bat on a triple from Garcia. By the end of the second, it was a 6-2 Missouri lead.

The Skyhawks flipped the script in the third, scoring six runs. The rally consisted of three runners getting walked and four singles passing through Missouri defense. Only one batter was left on base and UT Martin gained an 8-6 lead over the Tigers.

Missouri didn’t respond with runs of their own until the fifth inning. Freshman infielder Jack Holubowski started things off by getting on base with a dropped third strike. Two wild pitches and a walk for freshman infielder Drew Culbertson allowed Holubowski to reach third. Peer got walked to load up the bases, and a single and a fly out from Austin and Garcia bring in Holubowski and Culbertson to tie the game. To end things off, Daniels smashed a three-run home run to right field, making it an 11-8 Missouri lead.

The sixth inning followed a similar offensive fashion. Serna and Holubowski both got hit by a pitch to get on base. An error from sophomore pitcher Kaleb Baskin on Culbertson’s hit scored Serna, and an RBI single by Curtis scored Holubowski. Austin and Garcia would end this inning with another single and fly out, scoring the two runners and making it 15-8.

Missouri sweeps the series with the big win. The series wins put Missouri up to a 12-18 record. 

Edited by Grace Ainger | gainger@themaneater.com

Copy edited by Grace Knight | gknight@themaneater.com Edited by Genevieve Smith | gsmith@themaneater.com