Three runs in the ninth inning were not enough as Missouri baseball (15–13, 0–7 SEC) dropped a tough battle against No. 15 Arkansas (19–7, 4–3 SEC) in Friday night’s series opener in Fayetteville.
The Tigers remained winless in conference play and now sit at least 2.5 games behind every other team in the East division.
Mizzou held an early 3–0 lead, but surrendered seven unanswered runs before belting two home runs in the ninth to work their way back in the game. But 2015 All-SEC closer Zach Jackson was able to shut the door, inducing Tigers junior shortstop Ryan Howard into a harmless fly out to right to end the game.
The Tigers got off to a hot start by putting up runs in each of the first two innings. They managed to chase junior right-hander Dominic Taccolini from the mound after just one frame.
Arkansas fought back with a run in the third inning and another in the fifth before storming ahead with four more in the sixth. Mizzou senior right-hander Reggie McClain lasted 5.1 innings, allowing six runs (all earned) and suffered his first loss of the season. Four of the first five Arkansas batters recorded hits to start the frame before Jamieson went to the bullpen.
In the seventh, Arkansas senior second baseman Rick Nomura singled through the right side to extend the Razorbacks lead to 7–3. It proved to be the winning RBI, despite a furious Tigers rally in the ninth.
In the final frame, sophomore third baseman Shane Benes sent one over the left field wall with one out to put Mizzou back within striking range. After freshman second baseman Ian Nelson walked, a two-run shot to left from sophomore catcher Brett Bond cut the deficit to just one run.
Junior right fielder Kirby McGuire represented the tying run after Jackson entered the game and walked the first batter he faced. He moved up to second after a wild pitch, but Howard flew out to right to end the rally and drop the Tigers to 0–7 in conference play.
After being swept in consecutive series against the Southeastern Conference’s top teams — Florida and Vanderbilt — Mizzou faces two critical games over the next two days. The Tigers can ill afford to start the SEC season 1–8 or 0–9. Doing so would drop Mizzou into a substantial hole, possibly one too deep to climb out of if they want to reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2012. Sophomore right-hander Tanner Houck will get the start tomorrow with first pitch at 7:30 p.m. on SEC Network. The game can also be heard on KTGR.
