GAINESVILLE, Fla. – No. 24 Mizzou Baseball dropped game one of its three-game set at No. 1 Florida, 3-1, Friday evening at McKethan Stadium. The game was tied 1-1 heading into the bottom of the eighth inning, but Gator RF Wil Dalton ripped a game-winning, two-run, two-out double on a 1-2 pitch to give the Gators their first lead, one they did not relinquish.
Mizzou sophomore LHP T.J. Sikkema (DeWitt, Iowa) took a tough-luck loss as the winning run was charged to him after allowing leadoff single in the eighth. He worked a season-high 7.1 innings with a season-high eight strikeouts.
Florida freshman LHP Jordan Butler earned the win, improving to 4-1 on the year, while Michael Byrne earned his ninth save with a 1-2-3 ninth inning.
TURNING POINT
Mizzou and Florida traded runs in the first inning, with Mizzou scoring on an RBI groundout from senior C Brett Bond following a pair of walks from Florida starter Brady Singer to open the game. Florida answered in its half of the first with a one-out homer from Nelson Moldanodo.
The game stayed that way until the bottom of the eighth inning as Sikkema allowed a leadoff single to 1B Brady Smith to open the frame. After the Gators bunted Smith over, Mizzou head coach Steve Bieser went to the bullpen for RHP Andy Toelken, who retired the first man he faced. The Tigers then elected to intentionally pass Johnathan India to face Wil Dalton, who ripped the game-winning, two-run double off the wall in left. The double came on a 1-2 pitch.
QUOTING MIZZOU
Head Coach Steve Bieser
“It was quite a pitcher’s duel. We expected that going out. Their guy has done that to many teams this year. We competed hard and we just didn’t get the clutch hit. There in the eighth inning, we just left a pitch up – it just wasn’t a very well-executed pitch – and those things happen in a game. You have to give them credit. They went out and put a good swing on the pitch and that’s why they won the game.”
TOP TIGERS
– Sophomore LHP T.J. Sikkema went a season-long 7.1 innings and a season-high with eight strikeouts. He surrendered two runs on six hits and walked just one.
– Senior C Brett Bond tallied a hit and an RBI in the loss, extending his hitting streak to 10 games. He is hitting .393 with three RBI over his last seven games.
– Freshman Cade Bormet tallied his first career multi-walk game in his first appearance in the leadoff spot.
NOTES
- Mizzou now trails the series with Florida, 4-18.
- Mizzou falls to 5-4 on Fridays this season.
- Mizzou falls to 14-8 in three-game series this season.
- Mizzou falls to 6-4 against ranked teams this season and 5-4 vs. ranked teams on the road.
- Mizzou falls to 7-5 in road games and 9-7 in games away from home
- Mizzou scored in the first inning for the 17th time in 34 games this season Friday. Mizzou is now 13-4 in such games this season.
- Senior C Brett Bond tallied his third RBI in four games Friday. Bond extended his hitting streak to 10 games and is now hitting 11-for-25 (.440) over his last seven games.
- Freshman DH Cade Bormet tallied his first career game with multiple walks Friday.
- Sophomore LHP T.J. Sikkema reset season-high with eight strikeouts and went a season-long 7.1 on the mound Friday. It was his longest outing since a complete-game shutout at Tennessee on May 18, 2017.
UP NEXT
Mizzou and Florida will conclude their series tomorrow with a doubleheader, beginning at 3 p.m.
— Mizzou Athletics —