After losing twice to Dallas Baptist and once to Oklahoma by a combined score of 25-8, Missouri knew it was going to be in for a difficult game against top Pac-12 team Arizona in its final game in Frisco.
Once again, the Tigers’ pitching staff let the game slip away in a late four-run seventh inning for the Wildcats, who went on to win 8-4.
It was another inning where a new Missouri pitcher started the frame but was unable to finish it.
Junior transfer Jared Simpson entered the game with his team within striking distance, and only down by one run. His first four pitches were balls, and his last pitch walked in a run.
Simpson left with only one out recorded, giving up two hits and two walks. After Simpson came senior Cameron Pferrer. The right-hander gave up a sacrifice fly to bring in one more run.
Then the floodgates opened after a two-run single to right field by catcher Daniel Susac.
After the four-run inning ended, Missouri trailed by five runs which was too big of a lead for the inconsistent offense the Tigers brought to Texas.
Missouri found themselves trailing after the second inning when Arizona first baseman Braden Boissiere pummeled a ball over the center field wall to give his team the early lead.
The Wildcats then went back-to-back with designated hitter Jacob Berry sending a ball over the left field wall to make it 3-0.
However, the Tigers answered quickly.
Senior Luke Mann wanted to get in on the home run party and did just that. He launched a three-run bomb over the right field wall into the Dr. Pepper Ballpark swimming pool creating just a small splash for such a huge hit.
This was Mann’s first hit of the entire weekend. His strong day continued when he doubled to right-center in the fifth inning.
Mann then moved over to third after a sacrifice bunt, giving the Tigers the opportunity to take the lead. However, seniors Brandt Belk and Mark Vierling were retired quickly, preserving the tie.
Other than the Mann home run, Missouri struggled to move runners in position to score. The Tigers had nine hits, only one less than Arizona. However, they had eight men left on base.
Missouri had seven innings where at least one batter got on base, but it was only able to push runs across in two of those seven.
The biggest reason for this: strikeouts.
Belk earned the Golden Sombrero after his four-strikeout day. The Tigers had a total of 10 on the afternoon. Seven of those were on swinging strikes.
Transfer Torin Montgomery pinch-hit for Belk in the ninth, singling in Missouri’s fourth and final run of the game.
Missouri coach Steve Bieser loved how his team grinded at the end of the game.
“Out there at the end we’re showing fight, and that’s the one thing, our teams are not going to give up,” Bieser said. “We’re going to continue to work hard and figure out the things that are going wrong for us and just continue to battle.”
The loss extends the Tigers’ losing streak to five games. With only five games left before SEC play begins, they’ll have to find the missing pieces in order to compete.
Bieser remained positive despite the tough loss.
“We’ve got to come together,” Bieser said. “This is a good opportunity to get ourselves back into Columbia, reset and go from there.”
The Tigers will have a mid-week matchup over in St. Louis as they take on the Billikens on Wednesday, before opening up a four-game series with Illinois State at Taylor Stadium.
_Edited by Jack Soble | jsoble@themaneater.com_