Huskers Fall at Missouri

Columbia, Mo. - Missouri took advantage of Nebraska's misfortunes, topping the Huskers, 12-7, Saturday evening on a soggy night at Taylor Stadium.

The Tigers (26-22, 9-13 Big 12) took advantage of a season-high 12 walks by Husker pitchers and capitalized on a pair of costly first-inning miscues that put Missouri ahead to stay.

"This is a tough loss because of the things we did to ourselves," Nebraska Coach Mike Anderson said. "Give Missouri credit, but we did a lot of this to ourselves. We didn't pitch well and made too many mistakes. Anytime you give a team that many extra chances, nights like tonight can happen."

Jesse Santo went 2-for-5 with a pair of RBIs, as his two-run single in the third highlighted a five-run inning that gave the Tigers an 8-2 margin. Brett Nicholas also drove in two runs, while four Tigers enjoyed multi-hit night. Phil McCormick (6-1) picked up the win in relief, tossing 0.1 innings and getting Missouri out of a jam in the fifth after the Huskers pulled to within 8-5.

Cody Asche and Tyler Farst had two hits and two RBI apiece for Nebraska (23-26, 7-16) as the Huskers' Big 12 Tournament chances took a significant hit with the series loss to Missouri.

Missouri got ahead early, putting up three runs on Nebraska starter Tom Lemke, who fell to 5-6 with the loss. After a walk and an error got the rally started, Aaron Senne's RBI single to right gave the hosts a 1-0 lead.  MU tacked on another run on a Nicholas grounder and then got a break, as NU's second error of the inning allowed Senne to score the Tigers' third run of the inning.

Nebraska got some of the runs back in the second, putting together a two-out rally to pull within 3-2. With two outs, Cody Asche's grounder was misplayed to keep the inning alive. Farst then coaxed a walk before Josh Scheffert's single put the Huskers on the board. Patric Tolentino then made it a one-run game with an RBI single to right.

Missouri broke the game open in the third, scoring five runs off of four Husker pitchers. Two straight one-out singles put runners on the corners and ended Lemke's day. Connor Mach then greeted Khris Tate with an RBI single to make it a two-run advantage. Tolentino then threw out Dane Opel at third for the second out, but Tate walked Blake Brown to put runners on first and second. Chad Adams then came in and was unable to stem the tide, walking two, uncorking a wild pitch and giving up a two-run single to Santo before Ryan Hughes eventually got the Huskers out of the frame after NU's second wild pitch of the inning put the Huskers in a five-run hole.

Nebraska fought back in the top of the fifth, putting up three runs and chasing MU starter Kelly Fick. Two walks and a single loaded the bases with no outs before Kale Kiser's slow roller pushed across a run. Asche then chased Fick with a two-out RBI single before Farst sent McCormick's first pitch to right center for an RBI double. The Tiger southpaw then got Scheffert to ground out to end the threat and preserve Missouri's three-run lead. 

The Tigers got one of the runs back in the fifth and added three more runs on one hit in the seventh to make it 12-5.

The Huskers made it interesting in the ninth, scoring twice as Asche was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Farst's second hit of the night - an RBI single made it 12-7. Kevin Mahler then ended the Huskers' comeback bid, striking out Scheffert to end the game.

The Huskers will look to salvage the series finale Sunday morning at 11 a.m. as the start time was moved up in anticipation of rain in the area on Sunday. The game will be carried on the Husker Sports Network and Huskers.com. Freshman Tyler Niederklein (3-1, 2.57 ERA) will make his seventh start of the year for the Huskers.