Mizzou Baseball outlasts SIUE in error-filled matchup

The Tigers recorded eight errors but still managed to record the win

Mizzou Baseball recorded its fourth consecutive midweek victory Tuesday night, defeating SIUE 11-8 in Edwardsville despite recording eight errors.

The Tigers got a solid pitching effort from their staff, but needed to rely on a three-run ninth inning to seal the win after allowing the Cougars to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth.

Pierre Seals got Mizzou on the board in the top of the first with a two-run home run to left center field, also scoring Tyler Macon two at-bats after the freshman tripled down the right field line.

But the Tigers’ defense allowed SIUE to even the score in the inning’s bottom half. Pierre Seals committed an error in center field with one out and a runner on base, allowing Mack Mitchell to score and Ryan Niedzwiedz to advance to second.

He was brought home the next at-bat by Michael Siemer’s double down the right field line.

Kerrick Jackson’s squad bounced right back in the second innings, scoring two more runs. Hits by Yadi Hernandez and Peyton Basler put them both in scoring position for Keegan Knutson, who hit a flyball to right field.

Siemer canceled out Seals’ mistake in the first, committing an error which allowed both runners to score for a 4-2 lead.

Mizzou’s fielding blunders continued in the bottom of the second, though. Knutson committed a throwing error on Chase Bloomer’s groundball with two runners in scoring position, which allowed both to score and again tied the game.

The Cougars pulled ahead one at-bat later when Niedzwiedz hit a single up the middle following a steal by Bloomer, giving the hosts a 5-4 advantage.

But the Tigers’ offense continued to hum along in the top of the third, scoring two more runs to retake the lead.

Seals and Gehrig Goldbeck recorded consecutive hits with one out, putting two runners in scoring position for Chris Patterson.

The true freshman continued his recent breakout, smacking a double to left field and plating both runners.

Mizzou starter Wil Libbert settled in after a tumultuous opening two innings, which allowed Jackson’s squad to extend its lead with another pair of runs in the fourth inning.

Knutson doubled down the left field line with one out before Macon reached base on a fielding error by SIUE third baseman Ethan Willoughby. Macon advanced to second on a stolen base, then Seals singled to right field to bring both runners home for an 8-5 lead.

Libbert allowed just one hit and struck out four batters in his final three innings of work, exiting after the bottom of the fifth. The redshirt freshman ended his day with six hits and five runs (one earned) allowed alongside two walks and five strikeouts across five innings pitched.

Kadden Drew replaced Libbert on the mound and had a smooth first inning on the mound, preserving a three-run lead entering the seventh.

That’s when the Cougars’ comeback attempt was boosted by four errors by the Tigers in the bottom of the inning, allowing one run to score.

Knutson and Hernandez each recorded two errors during the frame and were entirely responsible for the run scored by Bloomer, making it 8-6. He reached first on a throwing error by Knutson, advanced to third base on a throwing error by Hernandez after stealing second base, and then scored on another Knutson throwing error.

Drew recorded two strikeouts between the first and third errors of the inning, then allowed a single to left field after Hernandez’s first error. The mishaps continued as Hernandez recorded another throwing error, allowing an SIUE runner to advance to third base, before Drew induced a flyout to end the threat.

Sean Kang carried over the Cougars’ momentum into the bottom of the eighth with a leadoff single. He was forced out at second base on Daniel Gierer’s ground ball.

Gierer then stole second base soon after reaching base on a fielder’s choice and advanced to third on a throwing error by Mateo Serna.

He scored one at-bat later on yet another throwing error by Knutson, his fourth of the contest. Drew recorded another out before hitting Niedzwiedz with a pitch and giving up a single up the middle to Kyle Ratliff, bringing around Mitchell to knot the contest 8-8.

Fortunately for Mizzou, the offense was productive enough to account for the frequent mistakes in the field.

Tyler Macon led off the ninth with a single before Cayden Nicoletto hit the game-winning home run to left field, giving Jackson’s squad a two-run lead. The Tigers added another run for good measure on Patteron’s triple to center field, which scored Goldbeck after he reached base on a walk.

Drew finished off the victory with a much cleaner bottom of the ninth. He finished with four hits and three runs allowed, none of them earned, alongside three punchouts in four innings pitched.

Seals led the Mizzou offense with a 3-4 night, scoring two runs and batting in four runners. Patterson followed closely with three RBI, recording two hits in five at-bats.

This was an especially bizarre game in an already strange season for the Tigers. Only one of SIUE’s runs on the night was earned, a particularly rough night for a Mizzou defense that has struggled all year long but flown under the radar because of the pitching staff’s struggles.

Now, the Tigers will redirect their focus to searching for an SEC win when they face Florida this weekend in Gainesville. The first game will be Friday at 6 p.m., and the contest will be broadcast on SEC Network.