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COLUMBIA, Mo. – Despite rallying from a nine-run deficit to take a two-run lead into the eighth inning, University of Missouri baseball dropped a 16-15 contest to Northern Kentucky Sunday afternoon in the deciding game of the two clubs’ series at Taylor Stadium.
Powered by a 3-for-5, 4-RBI afternoon by freshman Thomas Curry, the Tigers scored 12 runs over a three-inning stretch to wipe out a nine-run Norse lead, taking two separate two-run leads in the later stages of the contest. But Mitch Wood’s RBI double in the ninth plated the tying run, before a wild pitch brought the NKU third baseman home with what would prove to be the game-winning run moments later.
Aaron Massie (1-2) earned the win after holding the Tigers (5-6) scoreless over the final two frames. The right-hander allowed just a two-out single in the eighth and struck out three overall, including back-to-back punchouts to end the game.
NKU’s comeback overshadowed a monumental rally by the Tigers, who trailed 11-2 entering the home half of the fourth after an eight-run second inning propelled the Norse (4-7) to a sizable lead.
Mizzou started its comeback via back-to-back solo shots from Jackson Lovich and Curry, then sliced the lead to 12-8 in the fifth, thanks to run-producing hits from Trevor Austin and Kaden Peer, as well as a pair of NKU errors.
The Tigers appeared poised to complete a monumental come-from-behind victory after scoring six times in the sixth to claim a 14-12 edge. Jedier Hernandez’s leadoff homer pulled MU to within three runs, before singles from Tucker Moore and Austin set the table for a big inning. A walk to Lovich preceded a two-run Curry double, and bases-loaded walks to Peer and Jackson Beaman pushed the tying and go-ahead runs across the plate.
Hernandez capped the rally with another run-scoring plate appearance, lofting a sacrifice fly to left to bring in Justin Colon for a two-run Tigers lead.
But NKU had an answer, rallying for a two-out tally in the seventh, then scratching out an eighth-inning run as well after Mizzou scored in the seventh on a two-out single by Curry.
Jake Paulick kicked off the deciding rally in the ninth with a sharp single to left off Mizzou right-hander Jacob Peaden (1-1), before Wood’s liner to left brought in the equalizing run. Ryan Kilpatrick laid down a sacrifice bunt and reached first when Peaden elected unsuccessfully to throw out the runner at third.
Wood scored easily on a wild pitch from Peaden, who recovered to retire three hitters in a row to send the game to the bottom of the ninth.
Massie retired Moore on a fly ball to center before fanning Austin and Lovich to secure the victory and the series win for NKU.
The wild finish to the weekend saw the two teams combine for 69 runs over the final two games, including a 28-run outburst by the Tigers in Saturday’s contest that marked their best single-game offensive output since 2010.
That MU victory was made possible by the Tigers’ biggest inning in 19 years—a 14-run first inning. But it would be the Norse’s turn take control of Sunday’s contest with an early outburst. NKU battered Tigers pitching for nine runs on nine hits over the first two innings, including a second-inning barrage that saw seven of the 12 Norse hitters that came to the plate record hits.
Liam McFadden-Ackman punctuated the Norse’s big inning with a grand slam, turning a 3-2 lead into a five-run advantage for the visitors. Logen Devenport not only started the rally with a leadoff single, but capped the scoring with a two-run double that stretched the margin to 9-2.
NKU added to its lead with a pair of runs in the fourth, using run-scoring extra-base hits from John Odom and Tyler Shaneyfelt to push its lead to nine runs.
The trio of Austin, Curry and Hernandez combined for nine hits and eight RBIs in the setback, with each logging three-hit performances. Lovich added three RBIs and extended his career-best hit streak to six games.
TIGER NOTEBOOK
- Sunday’s crowd of 1,351 represented the Tigers’ 21st consecutive home crowd of 1,000 or more spectators, extending back to March 15, 2023.
- Mizzou scored 43 runs over the final two games of the series, its best two-game total since April 11-12, 2008, when the Tigers totaled 44 runs in two wins over Texas.
- Austin, Hernandez and Lovich each registered their second straight multi-RBI performances.
- Curry posted personal bests of four RBIs and three runs scored as part of his career-best 3-for-5 day.
- Hernandez matched his career-best hit total with three, which he achieved on five previous occasions over his two-year career at Seton Hall.
- Hernandez hit a Mizzou-best .600 (6-for-10) for the series, combining with Beaman and Lovich to hit four homers and drive in 21 runs in the three-game series.
- Moore (1-for-5) extended his hit streak to a career-best five games.
- Home runs by Lovich, Hernandez and Curry increased the Tigers’ season total to 15.
- Hernandez’s homer marked his first as a Tiger and the fourth of his collegiate career.
- Mizzou’s lost for just the 10th time when scoring in double-digits since the start of the 2003 season.
UP NEXT
Mizzou continues its home stand Tuesday (March 5) with a 3 p.m. (CST) nonconference matchup against Lindenwood.
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