Mizzou’s Trevor Austin slides into third base, while Lindenwood’s Bryson Arnette fields a throw during Tuesday’s NCAA baseball game at Taylor Stadium. (Photo: Terrance Williams)
| NCAA Baseball | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lindenwood (5-7) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 1 |
| Missouri (6-6) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | X | 5 | 7 | 0 |
WP: Wissler, Daniel Wissler – MIZ (2-1) LP: Michael Walsh – LU (0-2) SV: Jacob Peaden – MIZ (3)
DeMarcus Dixon
Staff Writer
COLUMBIA, MO — The Lindenwood University baseball team nearly rallied back from a 4-1 deficit, but fell just short, and suffered a 5-4 loss to the University of Missouri, Tuesday afternoon in an NCAA college baseball game at Mizzou’s Taylor Stadium.
Lindenwood took an early lead, when it got a lead off home run to begin the second inning by senior Dawson Hokuf to make the score 1-0 Lions. It was Hokuf’s team-leading third home run of the season.
Missouri answered back with four runs in the bottom of the fourth. The key blow came on a two-run single by Mateo Serna that made the score 4-1 Tigers.
Lindenwood responded with a pair of runs in the sixth. Bryson Arnette doubled with one out and was joined on base by Hokuf, who was hit by a pitch.
Both eventually scored. Arnette came in on a single by Logan Stevens, and Hokuf scored on a squeeze play bunt by Jack Meyer.
That made the score 4-3 until Mizzou added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth on a groundball out by Serna. It was his third RBI of the game.
And that run proved to be vitally important, as Lindenwood loaded the bases with nobody out in the top of the ninth.
Meyer led off with a walk, Chase Honeycutt beat out an infield single, and Anthony Stellato added a bunt single to put major pressure on the Tigers.
Mizzou closer Jacob Peaden kept his composure though. He struck out Evan Funkhouser to get the first out, then got a groundball out from Colin Shea to get out number two.
Meyer scored to make it 5-4 and Honeycutt advanced to third, putting the potential tying run just 90 feet away.
But Peaden struck out Lindenwood’s Kam Edwards to get the final out and preserve the win for Mizzou.
The Tigers are now 6-6 on the season, while Lindenwood had its four-game winning streak snapped and fell to 5-7.
Mizzou starter Daniel Wissler (2-1) got the win on the mound, after going five innings and allowed just one run on three hits, with one walk and five strikeouts. Peaden got the save. It was his third of the season.
Lindenwood starter Michael Walsh (0-2) took the loss. He went 5 2/3 innings and gave up those first four runs on four hits, with three walks and three strikeouts.
The Lions will be on the road this weekend for a three-game set in Kentucky against Murray State.
Mizzou will be at home, hosting a four-game set against Purdue-Fort Wayne.
SCORING SUMMARY
| Logo | Team | Inning | Play Description | LU | MIZ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | LU | 2nd | Hokuf, D. homered to right field, RBI (0-2 FK). | 1 | 0 |
 | MIZ | 4th | Lovich advanced to third; Austin advanced to third on a wild pitch, scored on a throwing error by c. | 1 | 1 |
| MIZ | 4th | Colon walked, RBI (3-2 BFSFBBB); Garcia advanced to second; Peer advanced to third; Lovich scored. | 1 | 2 |
| MIZ | 4th | Serna singled to left center, 2 RBI (0-1 F); Colon advanced to third; Garcia scored; Peer scored. | 1 | 4 |
| LU | 6th | Stevens, L. singled through the right side, RBI (0-1 K); Hokuf, D. advanced to third; Arnette, B. scored. | 2 | 4 |
| LU | 6th | Meyer, J. out at first 1b to 2b, SAC, bunt, RBI (1-0 B); Stevens, L. advanced to second; Hokuf, D. scored. | 3 | 4 |
| MIZ | 8th | Serna reached on a fielder’s choice, RBI (0-1 F); Colon out at second 2b to ss; Garcia scored. | 3 | 5 |
| LU | 9th | Shea, C. reached on a fielder’s choice, RBI (0-2 KF); Stellato, A. out at second 3b to 2b; James, M. advanced to third; Meyer, J. scored. | 4 | 5 |