Late Rally Not Enough for Baseball in Series Opener at No. 9 Vanderbilt

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – No. 9 Vanderbilt rode a shutdown pitching effort from Greyson Carter to a 3-1 decision over University of Missouri baseball in the opening contest of the two clubs’ three-game Southeastern Conference series Thursday evening at Hawkins Field.

Carter (3-0), who combined with three relievers on a no-hitter against Minnesota earlier this month, limited the Tigers to just three hits over 8 1/3 innings, fanning a season-high 11 batters, while facing just three hitters over the minimum. The junior right-hander retired 12 consecutive batters after surrendering a walk to Jackson Beaman to start the game, including six punchouts in a row as part of the game’s key stretch.

Mizzou starter Carter Rustad (3-4) matched Carter’s effort early in the contest, striking out a pair of Commodores in a perfect first inning, before working around back-to-back two-out hits in the second. In all, Rustad scattered eight hits and three earned runs, while striking out five hitters over 6.0 innings, which matched his longest outing of the season.

But Vanderbilt (21-6, 4-3 SEC) broke through in the third on a two-out base hit to left by Alan Espinal, after RJ Austin singled to start the rally.

Jedier Hernandez’s one-out double in the fifth snapped Carter’s streak and broke up the no-hit bid. A wild pitch moved the MU catcher to third, but that’s where he would stay, as Carter induced an inning-ending ground ball to preserve Vandy’s one-run cushion.

That proved to be one of the Tigers’ best opportunities to break through, as Carter started another impressive stretch, dispatching 11 of the next 12 MU hitters. In all, Carter allowed just four baserunners and retired 25 of 28 batters he faced after issuing the walk to Beaman to start the game.

Vandy added single runs in consecutive innings to extend the advantage to three runs. RJ Austin made it a 2-0 game with his RBI ground out in the fifth, before a run-scoring single by Davis Diaz the following inning capped the scoring for the home team.

Mizzou (10-16, 1-6 SEC) rallied in the ninth on Beaman’s one-out single that finally chased Carter from the contest. A wild pitch and a passed ball allowed the first Tiger run to cross the plate, and a two-out walk to Kaden Peer brought the potential tying run to the plate.

But Vandy closer Ryan Ginther induced a fly ball to center for the second out, before squashing the threat for good with a strikeout to end the game. The two Vandy hurlers combined for 12 strikeouts — a season single-game high for the Commodores’ staff.

RJ Austin and Troy LaNeve led the way with two-hit performances for the Commodores, while Beam led the Tigers with a hit and a walk in his four plate appearances.

TIGER NOTEBOOK

• Missouri dropped to 5-28 all-time vs. Vanderbilt.
• Jacob Peaden turned in 2.0 scoreless innings in relief of Rustad for his second consecutive scoreless appearance.
• Jeric Curtis recorded his seventh stolen base of the season to take over the team lead.
• Peer’s career-best four-game hit streak came to an end with his 0-for-3 night.
• Mizzou turned its 16th and 17th double plays of the season and played error-free defense.

UP NEXT
Mizzou and Vanderbilt will continue their series Friday (March 29) evening with another 6 p.m. (CDT) contest at Hawkins Field.

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.