The final score read 17–7 in favor of No. 4 Vanderbilt, but it wasn’t nearly that pretty. After dropping back-to-back heartbreakers in the first two games of the series, Missouri had nothing left in the tank on a rainy Sunday afternoon as Vanderbilt cruised to a 17–7 victory to finish off the sweep at Taylor Stadium.
The Commodores knocked out Mizzou’s senior starter Austin Tribby (L, 2–3) in the second inning after he surrendered six runs (one earned) on three hits. Three of those runs came off a home run to left from junior center fielder Bryan Reynolds. It was one of two home runs on the day for Reynolds, who reached base three times. Tribby has lost three consecutive starts after kicking off the season with two wins.
Mizzou cut the deficit to 6–2 with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the second, courtesy of a two-RBI single by junior right fielder Kirby McGuire, but that would be as close as the Tigers would get on the afternoon.
The Commodores extended their lead to 9–2 after five innings and put it well out of reach with eight more in the seventh and eighth innings. The Tigers committed eight errors in the ballgame, tying the single-game school record.
Mizzou is now 0–13 all-time against Vanderbilt.
Coach Tim Jamieson was forced to roll out six different pitchers, five of whom gave up at least one run. Sophomore right-hander Nolan Gromacki was the lone reliever to have a scoreless appearance.
Including replacements, Vanderbilt had 10 different batters recorded hits in the game, six of whom had multi-hit efforts. The Commodores finished with 17 hits in the game.
On the bright side, if there is one for the Tigers, they have already finished what likely going to be their toughest stretch of conference play. Starting their Southeastern Conference schedule off with back-to-back sets against No. 1 Florida and No. 4 Vanderbilt was no easy task and the Tigers did put a competitive product on the field for the most part, losing five of the six games by a combined 11 runs.
Nevertheless, Mizzou is facing a deep hole now after going 0–6 to kick off SEC action. Next weekend’s series on the road against Arkansas (18–6, 3–3 SEC) is virtually a must-win. Before that, however, the Tigers will square off against Saint Louis (12–12, 3–0 A10) at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City. Fans can hear the call on KTGR.