KTGR ESPN 100.5 FM & 1580 AM
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri baseball rode a four-run fourth inning and a season-high 13 strikeouts by its pitching staff to a 5-4 victory over Lindenwood Tuesday afternoon at Taylor Stadium.
Daniel Wissler (2-1) led the Tigers’ mound effort, striking out a career-best five hitters while holding the Lions to one run on three hits over five innings to earn the win. Freshman Charlie Miller fanned four in his 2.0 innings of one-hit, scoreless relief, before Jacob Peaden worked out of a ninth-inning jam to preserve the Mizzou victory.
Mizzou’s 13 strikeouts as a staff eclipsed a pair of 12-strikeout performances as the Tigers’ high-water mark for the season. None of the 13 were more crucial than two Peaden strikeouts with multiple runners on base and the Tigers closer protecting a slim lead. Following a leadoff walk and back-to-back singles to load the bases, Peaden fanned Evan Funkhouser for the first out, before a fielder’s choice grounder brought home the fourth Lions run, slicing the MU lead to one run with two still aboard.
Next, Peaden worked a 2-2 count to Kam Edwards before getting the LU outfielder to swing and miss at a third strike to squash the rally and strand the tying run 90-feet from home plate.
Mateo Serna drove in a career-high three runs, including the final two runs of Mizzou’s key rally, turning a one-run lead into a 4-1 advantage that the Tigers (6-6) would not relinquish.
In his first start of the season since returning from a preseason injury, Matt Garcia made an immediate impact as well. The senior infielder singled in back-to-back plate appearances, including a one-out hit in the eighth that sparked a Tigers threat that led to a critical insurance run.
Lindenwood (5-7) seized an early advantage on Dawson Hokuf’s leadoff home run to open the second, and starting pitcher Michael Walsh (0-2) faced little resistance from the Tigers in making the lead stand through the first three frames. The LU right-hander faced the minimum through 3 1/3 innings, allowing just one baserunner (on a hit batsman), which was promptly erased on a 4-6-3 double-play grounder in the second.
But Mizzou kicked its offense into gear with one out in the fourth, using Trevor Austin’s base hit to left on a 1-2 offering and Jackson Lovich’s single to right as a springboard to a big inning. A wild pitch and a throwing error allowed Austin to scamper home with the equalizing run, and a walk to Kaden Peer put runners on the corners. Garcia absorbed a Walsh pitch to reach on a hit by pitch, before Justin Colon drew one of his two free passes on the day to force home the go-ahead run.
Serna made Walsh and the Lions pay for their charity, lashing an 0-1 pitch into left-center for a two-run single and a 4-1 MU cushion.
The Lions pulled to within one run after a sixth-inning rally, keyed by pinch hitter Logan Stevens’ RBI single and a successful squeeze bunt by Jack Meyer.
Miller made the lead stand, torching the Lions in a 1-2-3 seventh with three consecutive strikeouts, before working around a leadoff single in the eighth by inducing a double-play grounder to third and blowing a third strike past Stevens for the final out.
Garcia’s one-out single to center ignited a crucial final rally for the Tigers in the eighth. A wild pitch moved him into scoring position, before Colon reached base for the third time in a row with a base hit to left. Serna then beat out the relay to first on a double-play attempt by the Lions, allowing Garcia to cross the plate with the fifth Mizzou run of the game.
TIGER NOTEBOOK
- With the victory, Missouri maintained its perfect series record against Lindenwood, improving to 5-0 all-time vs. the Lions.
- Mizzou’s streak of 21 consecutive home crowds of 1,000 or more spectators (dating to March 15, 2023) ended with Tuesday’s announced attendance of 926.
- Lovich extended his career-best hit streak to seven games with his fourth-inning single.
- Peaden locked up his third save of the season, eclipsing his previous career-high of two saves (2020 at Davidson).
- Through just 12 games this season, Peaden has already eclipsed the Tigers’ 2023 saves leader Zach Franklin’s season total of two saves.
- Serna drove in a career-high three runs.
- Austin was hit by a pitch for eighth time in 2024–which leads the SEC–and for the 37th time in his Mizzou career.
- Wissler recorded career bests of 5.0 innings and five strikeouts to earn his fourth win as a Tiger.
- Tuesday’s game marked Garcia’s 39th career multi-hit game and his eighth as a Tiger.
- Miller’s four strikeouts were a career high for the freshman right-hander.
UP NEXT
Mizzou opens a four-game weekend series with Purdue Fort Wayne Friday (March 8) with a 3 p.m. (CST) contest.
FOLLOW THE TIGERS
For all the latest information on Mizzou Baseball, please visit MUTigers.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Tigers on X, Instagram and Facebook.
