From Mike Shaw:
MIZZOU DROPS FINAL MIDWEEK GAME
There was a point late in Tuesday's game at Taylor Stadium that Southeast Missouri coach Steve Bieser began to talk back to the home fans.
Bieser was being heckled by some Missouri fans for arguing with the home plate umpire in the top of the eighth. Tiger fans weren't happy that Bieser was seemingly trying to tack on to SEMO's seven run lead.
With the score already 8-1 in favor of the visitors, umpires and opposing fans were the only people Bieser and the Redhawks had to compete against.
Mizzou (28-21, 14-10 in SEC) lost 8-5 to the Redhawks (31-17) on a night when the Tigers struggled early on the mound, committed three errors and fought back with a late but ultimately unsuccessful comeback.
"I like our lineup, I really do," Missouri coach Tim Jamieson said. "We just got to pitch it better. Thank God we don't have more midweeks."
After resting last Tuesday at Missouri State, senior John Miles returned for his normal midweek start.
In what was likely his last start at Taylor Stadium, the Columbia native surrendered seven runs (five earned) in 1 2/3 innings of work. Miles still has confidence from Jamieson and the Tigers, who Jamieson said don't have a true fifth starter heading into the SEC Tournament and, possibly, an NCAA regional.
"We don't really have anybody (else) who could spot as a fourth starter right now," Jamieson said, adding that he would look at using a combination of pitchers during postseason play should the Tigers' weekend starters be unavailable.
One such combination is that used by Missouri after Miles left the game. Austin Tribby, Lake Dabney and Jace James threw the remaining 7 1/3 innings without giving up an earned run.
"I thought the three relievers who came in did a really good job," Jamieson said.
While Tribby, Dabney and James stopped the bleeding, the Tigers didn't produce offensively until late in the game.
SEMO starting pitcher Jacob Lawrence, who came in to Taylor Stadium with a 7.48 ERA and zero wins, pitched five innings of scoreless baseball before allowing a Shane Benes solo homer in the bottom of the sixth.
It was the freshman's second career home run, his first coming during the previous game in a 4-3 loss to Ole Miss Sunday.
"He kept us off-balance all day," Benes said of Lawrence "None of his stuff was overpowering. He had us on our toes out in front and we couldn’t seem to make an adjustment."
The Tigers rallied a bit after Lawrence was pulled during the bottom of the eighth inning. Jake Ring drove in two runs during that frame, and the Tigers added two more in the bottom of the ninth before SEMO closed out the game.
Missouri has now gone 3-7 in its last 10. The Tigers have also lost five straight midweek games. Jamieson and his players said they're relieved they don't have to play any more midweeks during the regular season, although their next opponent, No. 1 LSU, won't be any easier than SEMO.
"It's hard to get up for the midweek games but we know we have to," Missouri second baseman Brett Peel said. "It's a lot easier to get up for LSU on a Friday night than it is SEMO midweek."
MIZZOU DROPS FINAL MIDWEEK GAME
There was a point late in Tuesday's game at Taylor Stadium that Southeast Missouri coach Steve Bieser began to talk back to the home fans.
Bieser was being heckled by some Missouri fans for arguing with the home plate umpire in the top of the eighth. Tiger fans weren't happy that Bieser was seemingly trying to tack on to SEMO's seven run lead.
With the score already 8-1 in favor of the visitors, umpires and opposing fans were the only people Bieser and the Redhawks had to compete against.
Mizzou (28-21, 14-10 in SEC) lost 8-5 to the Redhawks (31-17) on a night when the Tigers struggled early on the mound, committed three errors and fought back with a late but ultimately unsuccessful comeback.
"I like our lineup, I really do," Missouri coach Tim Jamieson said. "We just got to pitch it better. Thank God we don't have more midweeks."
After resting last Tuesday at Missouri State, senior John Miles returned for his normal midweek start.
In what was likely his last start at Taylor Stadium, the Columbia native surrendered seven runs (five earned) in 1 2/3 innings of work. Miles still has confidence from Jamieson and the Tigers, who Jamieson said don't have a true fifth starter heading into the SEC Tournament and, possibly, an NCAA regional.
"We don't really have anybody (else) who could spot as a fourth starter right now," Jamieson said, adding that he would look at using a combination of pitchers during postseason play should the Tigers' weekend starters be unavailable.
One such combination is that used by Missouri after Miles left the game. Austin Tribby, Lake Dabney and Jace James threw the remaining 7 1/3 innings without giving up an earned run.
"I thought the three relievers who came in did a really good job," Jamieson said.
While Tribby, Dabney and James stopped the bleeding, the Tigers didn't produce offensively until late in the game.
SEMO starting pitcher Jacob Lawrence, who came in to Taylor Stadium with a 7.48 ERA and zero wins, pitched five innings of scoreless baseball before allowing a Shane Benes solo homer in the bottom of the sixth.
It was the freshman's second career home run, his first coming during the previous game in a 4-3 loss to Ole Miss Sunday.
"He kept us off-balance all day," Benes said of Lawrence "None of his stuff was overpowering. He had us on our toes out in front and we couldn’t seem to make an adjustment."
The Tigers rallied a bit after Lawrence was pulled during the bottom of the eighth inning. Jake Ring drove in two runs during that frame, and the Tigers added two more in the bottom of the ninth before SEMO closed out the game.
Missouri has now gone 3-7 in its last 10. The Tigers have also lost five straight midweek games. Jamieson and his players said they're relieved they don't have to play any more midweeks during the regular season, although their next opponent, No. 1 LSU, won't be any easier than SEMO.
"It's hard to get up for the midweek games but we know we have to," Missouri second baseman Brett Peel said. "It's a lot easier to get up for LSU on a Friday night than it is SEMO midweek."
