LEXINGTON, Ky. – Mizzou Baseball dropped its series opener at No. 13 Kentucky, 2-1, Friday night (April 27) at Cliff Hagan Field. Kentucky got a go-ahead two-out homer from cleanup man Luke Heyer off Mizzou starter T.J. Sikkema in the fifth inning and that proved to be the difference. Mizzou falls to 28-14 on the year and 8-11 in SEC play while Kentucky improves to 28-14 and 9-10 in SEC play.
Sikkema took a tough-luck loss, falling to 3-4 on the year. He went 6.0+ innings, allowing just two runs on seven hits while striking out six against zero walks. Kentucky starter and reigning SEC Pitcher of the Year Sean Hjelle earned the win, improving to 6-3 on the year. He tossed 8.0 innings, scattering just six hits while striking out eight. He surrendered just one run on a first-inning sacrifice squeeze by senior C Brett Bond.
Freshman CF Cade Bormet missed a two-out game-tying homer in the top of the ninth inning by about a foot, caroming off the top of the wall, settling for a double to extend his hitting streak to six games. He was stranded on second base representing the tying run.
TURNING POINT
Mizzou and Sikkema took a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the fifth inning. After Sikkema retired the leadoff man, a one-out single by C Troy Squires set up the go-ahead inning for the Wildcats. Sikkema induced what would have been a tailor-made double play ball off the bat of Kole Cottam, but Squires was running on the pitch and that extended the inning as Mizzou got just the one out. That loomed large as Luke Heyer hit a go-ahead two-run homer to center field, just over the 390-foot wall.
That blow came as Hjelle appeared to settle in, facing the minimum over the fifth and sixth innings. Mizzou got a leadoff double from Alex Samples in the seventh, but could not push him across as that was Mizzou’s best chance to tie the game.
QUOTING MIZZOU
Head Coach Steve Bieser
“Really tough game right there. We had our opportunities and just didn’t take advantage of those opportunities. When you don’t do that, you’re going to get in trouble and that’s what happened tonight.”
TOP TIGERS
- Sophomore LHP T.J. Sikkema worked 6.0+ innings, facing one batter in the seventh inning, wallowing just two runs on seven hits with six strikeouts. He walked just one in a tough-luck loss.
- Junior 1B Brian Sharp reached base in three plate appearances, singling and scoring to leadoff the first, and walk later in the game. He tallied an infield hit in the eighth inning for his ninth multi-hit game of the season.
- Senior C Brett Bond had Mizzou’s lone RBI on a sacrifice bunt in the first inning.
- Junior RHP Nile Ball turned in a pair of shutout relief innings, striking out four.
- Senior 3B Alex Samples hit his third double in the last two games Friday.
- Freshman Cade Bormet extended his hitting streak to six games with a two-out double in the ninth inning.
NOTES
- Mizzou now trail the all-time series with Kentucky, 6-8.
- Mizzou falls to 6-5 on Fridays this season and 22-6 in night games.
- Mizzou is now 8-8 against ranked teams this season.
- Mizzou falls to 7-8 in road games this season
- Mizzou scored in the first inning for the 18th time this season. Mizzou is 13-5 in such games this season. Mizzou has scored 35 runs in the first inning this season (42 runs).
- Senior 3B Alex Samples hit his eighth double of the season in the seventh inning. He now has three doubles in his last two games.
- Mizzou played its 25th errorless game of the season Friday as it continues to defend alongside the nation’s best teams.
- Mizzou held its opponent to fewer than three runs for the 24th time in 42 games. It marked the 21st time in 42 games that the opponent has scored two or fewer runs.
UP NEXT
Mizzou and Kentucky will play Saturday at 1 p.m.
— Mizzou Athletics —