COLUMBIA, Mo. – No. 23 Mizzou Baseball lost its fifth straight one-run game Sunday afternoon as No. 9 Florida completed a three-game series sweep with a 2-1 win at Taylor Stadium. Florida improves to 20-9 and 5-4 in SEC play while Mizzou falls to 21-7 and 4-5 in SEC play.
Junior RHP Bryce Montes De Oca (Lawrence, Kan.) took the loss after going a career-high 5.0 innings and allowing just two earned runs, both with two outs. Mizzou stranded 11 men on base and lost another at the plate in the loss. Florida starter Jackson Kowar earned the win to move to 4-0 after going 5.0 innings with six hits and one run (earned). He walked a season-high five and struck out four. Michael Byrne earned his fourth save of the season.
Junior RHP Cole Bartlett (Williamsburg, Ind.) was brilliant in relief of Montes De Oca, turning in one of the best outings of his career. He tossed 4.0 shutout innings and struck out two while walking one and surrendering just two hits. The pitching was good Sunday, but Mizzou just struggled to score. The defense was outstanding, turning in four double plays to aid Mizzou’s pitching staff.
Florida’s JJ Schwarz squared up a 1-1 fastball with two down in the first inning, just sneaking it over the wall in left for his third homer of the season as Florida took a 1-0 lead early. The Gators added another two-out run on an RBI double by Ryan Larson in the second as they led 2-0 moving into the bottom of the second.
Mizzou got two men on in the second after Brian Sharp (Liberty, Mo.) walked and Alex Samples (Bridgeport, Texas) singled into right with one out. But Kowar pitched around the trouble to preserve the 1-0 lead.
Junior C Brett Bond (St. Louis, Mo.) nearly got Mizzou on the board with a two-out run of its own in the fourth, lacing a single into centerfield. Robbie Glendinning (Scarborough, Australia), who singled to lead off the frame, was waved home but Gator CF Nick Horvath gunned him at the plate for the third out, saving a run and preserving the 2-0 lead.
Mizzou loaded the bases with one out in the fifth inning on back-to-back walks and a beautiful bunt hit by Trey Harris (Powder Springs, Ga.). Kameron Misner (Poplar Bluff, Mo.) hit into a double play to scratch a run across but that was all Mizzou got, cutting the lead in half at 2-1. Mizzou stranded two more in the sixth inning as Connor Brumfield (Columbia, Mo.) nearly got a ball through the right side to tie the game. Mizzou left nine men on base through six innings and lost a runner at the plate in that span.
Mizzou stranded another runner in the seventh inning and then came up empty in the eighth and ninth innings.
Mizzou will be back in action Tuesday in Sauget, Ill., in a battle for Braggin’ Rights against rival Illinois at 6:30 p.m.
— Mizzou Athletics —