Mizzou Baseball falls to kU in Lawrence

The Tigers’ bats continued their slump

Mizzou Baseball’s losing streak extended to eight games with a 9-3 loss to arch-rivals kansas in Lawrence Friday, the first game of a home-and-home which will see kU travel to Columbia next week.

Kaden Peer put the Tigers on the board in the top of the first with a solo home run down the right field line for a 1-0 lead.

But the Jayhawks struck back with a home run of their own in the inning’s bottom half, taking a 3-1 advantage on Brady Counsell’s three-run homer to left-center field.

kU’s first two runners reached on a single and an error by Mizzou starter Josh Kirchhoff, who made his first start of the season. The junior has pitched sparingly this year despite the Tigers’ lack of healthy arms, entering the game with 9.1 innings pitched in 2025.

He allowed back-to-back hits to begin the bottom of the second, with the hosts scoring their fourth run on Ian Francis’ single through the left side, before being replaced by Brock Lucas. Kirchhoff gave up four hits and four runs, three of them earned, with one walk and no strikeouts in one inning pitched.

The outing brought his season ERA, which began the night at 17.36, to 18.29.

Mizzou benefited from reliever Thaniel Trumper’s control issues in the top of the third, putting two runners on the bases with walks. Jackson Lovich later scored on a wild pitch, making it 4-2.

But the Jayhawks responded with two more runs, both on a single up the middle by Counsell, in the bottom of the fourth after Xavier Lovett replaced Brock Lucas on the mound.

Counsell is the son of Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell, something which surely won’t endear him to the St. Louis-based Tigers faithful, either.

Two scoreless innings passed by before the Tigers plated another run on a single through the right side by Peer, 6-3. The single scored Tyler Macon, who reached on a throwing error by kU shortstop Sawyer Smith.

Smith made up for his mistake the next half inning, though, doubling down the right field line to bring home Michael Brooks and build the lead back to four runs.

The Jayhawks scored their final two runs of the game on a Mizzou mishap in the bottom of the eighth. Two walks and a single loaded the bases for Dariel Osoria, who hit a single into left field.

The hit scored Brady Ballinger, but a throwing error by Macon also brought around TJ Williams.

The Tigers struggled to kickstart a comeback, leaving at least one runner on base in each of the final five innings, and Eric Lin closed out the 9-3 victory for kU.

The game continued Mizzou’s recent offensive slump. The Tigers have failed to score more than five runs in seven of their last eight contests, possibly a sign of the season-long strain placed on the offense by the team’s pitching and defense.

The Tigers allowed nine runs but received strong outings from Brock Lucas and Josh McDevitt. Lucas looked like a key piece of the puzzle for the pitching staff entering the year, earning a spot in the rotation to start the season, but has failed to live up to the potential he flashed in fall ball.

His performance tonight was a step in the right direction, though, allowing one hit and zero runs in his two innings of work. This was the first time he prevented a run from scoring in his last six appearances, dating back to April 2 against UAPB.

McDevitt also seems to be picking up steam after a rough first outing of the season against Missouri State following his return from injury. He did not allow a hit and recorded a strikeout in his outing, making it two of three appearances where he has held his opponents scoreless.

Mizzou will need both pitchers to be at their best if it hopes to secure another win the rest of the season. The Tigers get their next crack at an SEC win this weekend when they face Georgia in Columbia Friday through Sunday.

First pitch in the series opener is at 6 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on SEC Network+.