The Tigers leave Puerto Rico with a 1-2 record after losing to Penn State and Stetson
The Missouri Tigers entered the Puerto Rico Challenge eager to start the season on a high note.
After a shutout loss to open the tournament against Penn State, the Tigers recorded their first win thanks to a strong offense against UConn before dropping the final match against Stetson. Now sitting at 1-2 the Tigers have a few things to hammer out moving forward, but much to look forward to.
FRIDAY
In their first meeting since the 1952 College World Series, Penn State evened the all-time series at one game apiece with a 10-0 victory against the Missouri Tigers on Friday night.
Ian Lohse started on the mound for the Tigers and threw a strong four frames, only allowing a solo shot and an unearned run. He also tossed a career high eight strikeouts.
In the Roster Preview Series, we discussed how Lohse has shown flashes of potential throughout his career when not sidelined with injuries. After the loss of Javyn Pimental due to injury, the left-hander finally breaking through could be crucial for Tiger success.
Brock Lucas entered the game in the fifth inning attempting to keep the game close at 2-0. However, the pitcher struggled with command giving up two home runs to the Nittany Lions allowing the lead to extend to 6-0.
Lucas settled into the sixth before the Lions pounced again in the seventh, reaching a score of 10-0.
As the Tigers couldn’t find success at the mound, nothing worked at the plate, either.
Through five innings, Penn State starter Mason Horwat struck out seven and allowed one hit. After two walks and an error, the Tigers had the bags loaded in the third but Horwat worked his way out of the jam.
It would prove to be costly as the Tigers only had three more runners reach base throughout the game.
On a positive note, both Pierre Seals and Blake Simpson recorded their first hits as Missouri Tigers.
The loss was Mizzou’s third consecutive opening-day loss.
SATURDAY
The bats came to life on day two of the Puerto Rico Challenge as the Tigers defeated the Connecticut Huskies by a score of 11-7.
Mizzou jumped out to a 1-0 lead when a double in the second inning from Kaden Peer drove home Jackson Lovich, on base due to a leadoff single.
Peer recorded his second RBI of the night in the third to bring the score to 2-2.
UConn regained the lead in the sixth before the Mizzou offense exploded. Cameron Benson reached third thanks to an error, then Trey Lawrence drew a walk. With runners on the corners, Peyton Basler and Gehrig Goldbeck recorded two singles to drive Benson and Lawrence home. Brock Daniels increased the lead with a double before Mateo Serna launched a three-run home run. Serna’s three hits were his third career multi-hit game.
Lovich added the second homer of the night in the eighth, and the run proved to be extra insurance to bolster an 11-7 win.
Daniel Wissler started the day on the mound only allowing two runs on three hits.
Kaden Jacobi had a great relief appearance through three innings before the wheels fell off in the seventh. Jacobi allowed three doubles to the Huskies, allowing four runs. However, he still recorded the win.
Nic Smith then entered to close the seventh. Later, Wil Libbert and Xavier Lovett closed the final two innings for the win.
The win was not only the first Tiger win of the season, but also Coach Kerrick Jackson’s 100th career victory.
SUNDAY
Despite keeping the offense going in the final day of the Challenge, the Missouri Tigers did not have enough in the tank to defeat the Stetson Hatters, losing 9-7.
After two home runs then day before, the Tigers added to the tally by adding three on Sunday.
Missouri scored the first two runs of the game in the first inning thanks to a Lovich single and a passed ball that advanced runners.
The Hatters quickly tied the game in the second.
The score went back and forth until the top of the third when Benson and Seals knocked in back-to-back jacks, their first homers as Tigers.
Simpson then homered in the fifth to bring the score to 7-4. It was also the first homer of his MU career.
Stetson reignited the offense in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game, then recorded the go-ahead runs in the seventh.
Mizzou threatened in the ninth with two runners on base but couldn’t drive them home.
On the bump, Mizzou had their second straight 9 strikeout game.
Five different Tigers took the mound with Kadden Drew as the starter. Another wildcard, Drew is in his first full season after redshirting last year, and over four innings, Drew allowed four runs while also striking out four.
Brady Kehlenbrink was credited with the loss.
A bright spot was Ben Smith. Smith retired all six batters he faced over the weekend. (Editor’s fun fact: He clearly had good juju on his side as his girlfriend, Mizzou gymnast Kennedy Griffin, recorded her first ever perfect 10 on Friday night).
TAKEAWAYS
First, let’s talk some of the positives.
The bats were clicking in the final two games, led by some of the anticipated leaders of this season’s offense. Jackson Lovich went 3-9 with four RBI across those two contests, while Mateo Serna impressed by going 4-8 with five runs batted in. Serna is a prime candidate to make a leap forward in his sophomore year.
Other notable offensive efforts included Brock Daniels (4-9, five runs scored) and the corner outfield duo of Cameron Benson and Pierre Seals, who both displayed the power seen in fall ball with solo home runs against Stetson. JUCO transfer Blake Simpson also had a strong weekend to kickstart his collegiate career, going 3-8 and hitting his first longball as a Tiger.
Mizzou’s pitching had far more mixed results.
Ian Lohse had a solid outing against the Nittany Lions, allowing only one earned run in four innings of work and striking out eight batters. The southpaw was once seen as a key part of the Tigers’ future, and he might just be reaching that role now after a season ending injury in 2023 and recording middling results out of the bullpen last year.
The team’s other two starters, Daniel Wissler and Kadden Drew, combined for six earned runs allowed in seven innings. While the competition faced in Puerto Rico was a tough opening test, that’s simply not going to cut it when SEC play arrives.
Brock Lucas, expected to be a candidate for a rotation spot before the season and one of the squad’s standouts in the Fall World Series, gave up six earned runs in just 2.2 innings pitched facing Penn State.
Mizzou had a few pitchers shine out of the bullpen, most notably Ben Smith with no hits or runs allowed in two innings of work while punching out three hitters.
The Tigers will need more out of their starters and some of the pitchers expected to play key roles this year, though. But there is still plenty of time for improvement, and one weekend is a very small sample size.
Kerrick Jackson’s squad was also heavily hamstrung before the season with ace Javyn Pimental’s injury which required Tommy John surgery.
Mizzou has some young, promising pitchers and a solid amount of talent across that position. It’s becoming clear early on that development during the season will play a key role in the team’s chances to keep up with the rest of the conference.
OVERALL OUTLOOK
A 1-2 start to the season isn’t what Mizzou wanted, but it’s important to note that the Tigers played some quality teams this weekend. UConn and Stetson were NCAA Tournament teams last year and were both picked to finish first in their respective conferences. Penn State was picked to finish near the bottom of the Big Ten, but the Nittany Lions have the potential to surprise.
While it’s still going to be an uphill climb for this team to compete in the SEC — the Tigers showed glimpses of what they can become in their 11-7 victory over the Huskies.
UP NEXT
The Tigers will continue their road trip as they to Florida for a matchup against UCF on Wednesday, Feb. 19. The game will begin at 5:30 p.m. They will remain in the Sunshine State for their weekend slate of games just as their Mizzou diamond sports counterparts head out to the west coast.