What started as a pitchers’ duel between a pair of imposing lefties quickly turned into an offensive showcase as No. 6 Texas, defeated Mizzou 11-6. The Tigers avoided being run-ruled by scoring six runs in the seventh inning after trailing 10-0.
Casey Borba led off the scoring for Texas in the third by launching a solo home run to right-center field. Dariyan Pendergrass followed with a single into right, scoring after a defensive error on a bunt by Jayden Duplantier. Pitcher Brady Kehlenbrink rushed the throw to Jase Woita at first, sending the ball into right field. This allowed Pendergrass to score and Duplantier to advance.
Carson Tinney homered after a 13 pitch battle to bring Duplantier home and give the Longhorns a 4-0 lead.
The Tigers eventually escaped the inning on a double-play and a Kehlenbrink pickoff.
Kam Durnin was the only Mizzou baserunner in the fourth after leading off with a double. Pitcher Luke Harrison sat down the next three hitters, striking out Donovan Jordan to end the frame.
Jackson Sobel came in to pitch for the Tigers in the bottom half of the inning, loading the bases with one out after a single, hit by pitch and a walk. He then walked Duplantier, plating a run and giving the Longhorns a 5-0 lead.
The inning escalated when Tinney rocked a grand slam over the batter’s eye in center field for his second long-ball of the game. Pack followed suit with a solo shot to right on the subsequent pitch.
Before the sun had set in Austin, the Tigers trailed 10-0.
TJ Green entered the game and finished the inning on the mound, limiting the damage and securing the final two outs.
After a pair of scoreless innings, Mizzou entered the seventh three outs away from a run-rule shutout loss. The Tigers loaded the bases with two hits and a hit batter, before ending the shutout bid on a Pierre Seals walk that scored Jamal George. Harrison was removed from the game following the walk. He was credited with pitching 6⅓ innings, allowing just one run at the time of his departure on five hits while striking out six batters.
Thomas Burns came into the game to pitch, allowing a bases-clearing double by Woita that added three earned runs to Harrison’s line, as Mizzou cut the deficit to six. Burns was removed moments later after throwing a wild pitch, and issuing a walk to Durnin.
Ethan Walker surrendered a singular unearned run as Woita scored on a groundout by Blaize Ward.
With a 10-5 score, Brody Walls entered and sent his first pitch past the catcher Tinney, allowing Pierre Seals to score on the wild pitch. He escaped after striking out Mateo Serna, keeping the Texas lead at four.
Adrian Rodriguez picked up his third hit of the day to lead off the seventh, a single against Mizzou’s Kadden Drew. He would score on a single from Borba after advancing to second on a wild pitch, and tagging to third on a diving catch by Kaden Peer.
The teams swapped scoreless frames in the eighth, and Sam Cozart came in to close the door on an 11-6 victory with a strikeout of Durnin. The Longhorns clinched the series, handing Mizzou its 23rd Southeastern Conference loss.
Texas collected 14 hits, while Tigers ended the game with six.
“Can’t spot a team 10 runs,” Missouri coach Kerrick Jackson said to Tiger Radio postgame.
Peer was the only Tiger with multiple hits, picking up a single and a double. He was also hit by a pitch, scored a run, and made a pair of great catches in center field.
Green was a bright spot among the pitchers, allowing no runs in two innings while giving up just one hit. Luke Fricker ended the game, pitching 1⅓ innings while striking out two batters.
“Good outing for both those guys,” Jackson said.
The teams will play at 2 p.m. Saturday in the final game of the regular season in Austin, Texas. The Tigers (23-29, 6-23 SEC), will attempt to salvage a win in the series before heading to the SEC tournament beginning on Tuesday.