Mizzou holds on to win mid-week showdown 5-4 against Lindenwood
| March 05, 2024 | Sports,
As Evan Funkhouser stepped to the plate for Lindenwood trailing by two runs with the bases loaded and no outs, it seemed as if Jacob Peaden would blow his second save in a row; however, he and Missouri’s defense found a way to get out of the inning allowing only one run and holding on for the 5-4 victory.
Daniel Wissler pitched a solid first five innings, allowing only one run, and Charlie Miller was fantastic in relief. Other than a 2-3 debut for Matt Garcia, the Tigers’ bats struggled immensely on Tuesday, and questions still remain about the depth of the bullpen.
It was a “step in the right direction,” according to head coach Kerrick Jackson.
Daniel Wissler got the nod for Missouri, his second start of the year. Danny Corona, Mateo Serna and Jeric Curtis notched their way back into their lineup. Matt Garcia made his season debut at shortstop after being kept out of the lineup with a hand injury. He finished the day 2-3.
Coach Jackson said of his return, “It’s good to have that presence and the calmness back.”
It was a difficult day for hitting as the light rain and cold weather put a lot of pressure on hitters. Mizzou struggled; they only scored five runs but nonetheless found a way to get the victory.
In the top of the second, DH Dawson Hokuf led things off for the Lions.
After being denied an at-bat due to Colin Shea’s being caught in a pick-off in the first inning, Hokuf made his presence felt. He drilled a ball over the right field fence for a solo shot to give Lindenwood the lead and tallied his third home run of the year.
Mizzou finally got the bats warm in the bottom of the fourth. Tucker Moore and Trevor Austin kicked the inning off with two singles. After a litany of throwing errors, Moore scored Mizzou’s first run.
Mizzou plated three more after a bases-loaded walk and a 2-RBI single from Mateo Serna, giving them a 4-1 lead at the end of 4.
Other than the blip in the second, Daniel Wissler was very solid through five innings of work. With that, Kerrick Jackson went to his bullpen.
He turned to Ian McDevitt who struggled in his first inning for work, giving up two runs off an RBI-single from Logan Stevens and a squeeze bunt off the bat of Jack Meyer, cutting the Mizzou lead to 4-3.
The next two innings were dominated by strong pitching in relief as Lindenwood’s Jett Jackson gave up only one in a few innings of work while Charlie Miller had two innings of very solid work allowing no runners.
Jacob Peaden stepped back to the mound with a 2-run lead in the ninth after a blown save on Sunday. After a walk, an infield single, and a walk via bunt, Lindenwood loaded the bases with no outs.
It looked like Peaden might be destined for a repeat of Sunday’s disaster, but a 3-pitch strikeout and a chopper to third base cleared one runner off the base but scored another.
Peaden faced off against James Jett with a now-1-run lead and runners on 1st and 3rd with 2 outs.
The Davidson transfer locked in to punch out his second batter of the inning and notch the save, giving Mizzou the lead 5-4.
Jackson joked, “If he keeps doing what he’s doing, he’s gonna give us a heart attack.”
As Peaden develops as a closer, Jackson harped on the idea that mentality is just as important as anything and hopes that he will continue to “come into his own.”
Mizzou will have a four-game series this weekend against Purdue-Ft. Wayne while Lindenwood travels to Kentucky to take on Murray State.