Missouri right-hander Tanner Houck certainly can’t blame himself after Tigers baseball fell to No. 4 Mississippi State by a score of 4–3 Friday night in Starkville, Mississippi. The sophomore worked into the eighth inning at 113 pitches, allowing just two earned runs.
Mizzou is now guaranteed to finish below .500 in Southeastern Conference play.
Unfortunately, for Houck, his defense did not do him many favors. The Tigers (24–24, 7–16 SEC) committed three errors on routine grounders, two of which came around to score. The Bulldogs (31–14–1, 13–9 SEC) took advantage of numerous Tigers mistakes and missed opportunities and clawed their way to a win to claim the series.
As they did in the series opener, the Tigers struck first. Junior center fielder Jake Ring pulled one down the line in right to bring home a pair of runs in the third. However, those two runs would be the only Tigers to cross the plate. Mississippi State starter Austin Sexton (W, 5–2) scattered four hits over eight innings, fanning eight batters.
The Tigers had their fair share of chances. With a chance to extend their 2–0 lead at the time, they wasted a bases-loaded opportunity with nobody out in the sixth. After escaping the jam, Mississippi State got on the board in the bottom half of the inning as Mizzou committed two errors within a span of three at-bats.
Another unearned run crossed the plate in the seventh for the Bulldogs to tie the game. They pulled ahead for the first time the following inning with a pair of sacrifice flies, knocking Houck (L, 4–5) out of the game.
Mizzou threatened with some potential late-game heroics in the ninth when the first two men reached base. Freshman designated hitter Brian Sharp chopped a single through the right side to score a run and cut the deficit to one. Sophomore outfielder Johnny Balsamo reached third base with one out, representing the tying run, but was stranded there. Junior southpaw Daniel Brown was credited with the save for Mississippi State.
Mizzou will try to salvage a win in the series finale Saturday afternoon. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. on SEC Network+ and KTGR.