Coach Kerrick Jackson and the Missouri Tigers kicked off the 2025 season in Caguas, Puerto Rico vs Penn State, unfortunately falling short to the Nittany Lions 10-0. 

After both teams went scoreless in the first inning, junior second baseman Blake Simpson laced a single to third, but was ultimately stranded to end the inning. The Tigers did not record another hit until the top of the ninth inning.

In the bottom of the second, Penn State catcher Matt Maloney hit the first of three home runs for the Nittany Lions: a solo home run with two outs.

The next two home runs came in the bottom of the fifth inning by outfielder Paxton Kling and outfielder and first baseman Cole Wagner, who both secured two-run shots and advanced the score to 6-0.

There was no more scoring until the seventh inning when the Nittany Lions scored seemingly every way possible on two hits, a sacrifice fly and an error all accounting for a run each making the score 10-0. 

The starting pitcher for Missouri was left-handed pitcher Ian Lohse, who went four innings with eight strikeouts and only allowed one earned run. He was followed up by right-handed pitcher Brock Lucas, who pitched 2.2 innings, allowing eight hits and six earned runs. The final pitcher of the day, right-handed pitcher Ben Smith, was perfect through 1.1 innings, accumulating two strikeouts.  

Missouri’s bats woke up the game after to capture an 11-7 victory against the University of Connecticut Huskies on day two. The Tigers came out swinging against the Huskies, scoring six runs in the sixth inning. 

Missouri had four different players with multiple hits and two home runs, one by infielder Jackson Lovich in the fifth inning and the other from catcher Mateo Serna in the sixth inning. 

UConn made a last-ditch effort to come back in the seventh inning by piling up four runs, but couldn’t overcome the early deficit. The Tigers’ win for  Jackson was the 100th of his career as a head coach. 

The Tiger bats stayed hot on day three, facing the Stetson Hatters and scoring two runs in each of the first three innings. Unfortunately for Missouri, the Stetson bats were on fire as well. 

Missouri led for most of the game and tallied three solo shot home runs as a team.

Designated hitter Cameron Benson got the home run party started in the third inning, lacing a solo shot to center field which was followed up by outfielder Pierre Seals going back-to-back and extending the Missouri lead to 6-4. Simpson then joined the fun in the fifth inning, blasting a solo shot to left field to give the Tigers a three-run lead. 

Stetson came roaring back in the sixth inning, scoring three runs and another two in the seventh. A double from Evan Griffis took the lead in the seventh, and the Hatters didn’t look back. 

Over the weekend, infielder Brock Daniels and Serna really stood out, both tallying four hits with Serna adding two extra-base hits, one being a homer. 

Smith was the best pitcher over the weekend for the Tigers, going perfect over the two innings he pitched, including three punchouts. 

Looking forward the Tigers have their home opener February 26 vs Lindenwood and their home series opener against Evansville starting February 28.

Edited by Michael Stamps | mstamps@themaneater.com

Copy edited by Natalie Kientzy | nkientzy@themaneater.com

Edited by Annie Goodykoontz | agoodykoontz@themaneater.com