Missouri baseball fell to in-state rival Missouri State 5-1 in a game where the bats just never got going for the Tigers. Missouri State’s Austin Knight dominated Mizzou, allowing three hits over 6.2 innings of work before letting the bullpen take over. Junior Brett Bond was the only offensive bright spot for the Tigers, going 2-4 with an RBI.

The scoring started in the bottom of the fourth inning when Missouri State’s Justin Paulsen homered down the line off Mizzou junior Andy Toelken. Toelken gave up another solo home run in the fifth to Hunter Steinmetz, increasing Missouri State’s lead to 2-0.

Mizzou was able to make things interesting in the seventh after junior Trey Harris was hit by a pitch and then advanced to third on a Bond double. The threat was quickly snuffed out, however, when sophomore Brian Sharp and junior Robbie Glendinning both struck out to end the inning.

Missouri State put the game out of reach in the eighth inning. Freshman TJ Sikkema came on to pitch the inning and looked uncharacteristically erratic. Sikkema gave up three runs on four hits, and the usual control that has made him so effective seemed to be missing from his arsenal. With two runners on base, Sikkema left a pitch to Landan Ruff high and outside, which Ruff smashed off the outfield scoreboard to put the game away.

The Tigers have now lost three in a row, with bullpen inconsistency and cold bats making it difficult for them to grind out wins. In a competitive SEC, wins in nonconference games are incredibly important, and the Tigers’ inability to close out games has cost them the past couple weeks.

The Tigers need to right the ship in a hurry if they plan on climbing the conference ranks and making a trip to the postseason.

_Edited by Eli Lederman | elederman@themaneater.com_