THIBODAUX, La. – After falling behind 4-1 in the first inning, Missouri baseball did not surrender another run in a come-from-behind 7-4 win to take the season-opening series at Nicholls State.
Mizzou (3-1) scored twice in the seventh and three times in the eighth to complete the comeback. Four of the five late inning runs came with two outs, as freshman Carlos Peña roped an RBI-triple in the seventh to pull the Tigers within one and junior Luke Mann launched a two-out, bases-clearing double in the eighth to plate three.
After starter Jacob Kush was chased in the second inning, newcomer and Columbia native Kyle Brown kept the Tigers in the game with 4.1 scoreless innings in his debut. Brown allowed just two hits while striking out one and issuing a single walk.
Senior Austin Cheeley (1-0) followed with three scoreless innings to earn his first win as a Tiger. The imposing right-hander fanned a pair in shutting the door.
IMPACT INNING
Trailing by a run in the eighth inning, junior Nander De Sedas drew a leadoff walk to start the Mizzou rally. After De Sedas swiped second and moved to third on a groundout, senior Josh Day and sophomore Trevor Austin worked back-to-back two-out walks to load the bases. Mann made sure the Tigers did not squander the opportunity, scorching a three-run double off the left field wall to give Mizzou the 7-4 advantage.
TOP TIGERS
Carlos Peña: 2-for-3, 3B, RBI, OF assist
Kyle Brown: 4.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 K, 1 BB
Luke Mann: 2-for-4, 2B, 3 RBI
Austin Cheeley: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 K, 1 BB
IN THE NOTES
FROM THE SKIP
Coach Bieser on the comeback win…
“Well, that was big. That was key for us. We hit adversity in the first inning and we were able to bounce back. Good to see the resiliency that the team stuck to it and nothing came easy today. It was a tough day to hit, the wind’s blowing right in your face and when you give up four early, we knew that it was going to be tough to get back into this game but the guys stuck to it. It took a team effort, we used a lot of players and put guys in the best situation possible we thought and then we had some guys really come through; a guy like Luke Mann who we're relying on to come through all year. So, just an outstanding job today.”
UP NEXT
Mizzou continues its road trip with a Wednesday, Feb. 23, contest at Southern. First pitch against the Jaguars is slated for 6 p.m.
Mizzou (3-1) scored twice in the seventh and three times in the eighth to complete the comeback. Four of the five late inning runs came with two outs, as freshman Carlos Peña roped an RBI-triple in the seventh to pull the Tigers within one and junior Luke Mann launched a two-out, bases-clearing double in the eighth to plate three.
After starter Jacob Kush was chased in the second inning, newcomer and Columbia native Kyle Brown kept the Tigers in the game with 4.1 scoreless innings in his debut. Brown allowed just two hits while striking out one and issuing a single walk.
Senior Austin Cheeley (1-0) followed with three scoreless innings to earn his first win as a Tiger. The imposing right-hander fanned a pair in shutting the door.
IMPACT INNING
Trailing by a run in the eighth inning, junior Nander De Sedas drew a leadoff walk to start the Mizzou rally. After De Sedas swiped second and moved to third on a groundout, senior Josh Day and sophomore Trevor Austin worked back-to-back two-out walks to load the bases. Mann made sure the Tigers did not squander the opportunity, scorching a three-run double off the left field wall to give Mizzou the 7-4 advantage.
TOP TIGERS
Carlos Peña: 2-for-3, 3B, RBI, OF assist
Kyle Brown: 4.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 K, 1 BB
Luke Mann: 2-for-4, 2B, 3 RBI
Austin Cheeley: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 K, 1 BB
IN THE NOTES
- With four more two-out RBI, the Tigers racked up 24 in the four-game series.
- Mizzou’s bullpen combined for 7.1 scoreless innings in relief. The Tigers did not allow a run after the first inning grand slam.
- Cheeley’s win was the second of his career and his first in a Mizzou uniform.
- Day, Mann and Torin Montgomery all recorded hits to give them a knock in all four games to start the season. Going back to last season, Day is riding an 11-game hitting streak.
- Mizzou’s come-from-behind win was its first in the eighth inning or later since March 21, 2021, at Kentucky.
FROM THE SKIP
Coach Bieser on the comeback win…
“Well, that was big. That was key for us. We hit adversity in the first inning and we were able to bounce back. Good to see the resiliency that the team stuck to it and nothing came easy today. It was a tough day to hit, the wind’s blowing right in your face and when you give up four early, we knew that it was going to be tough to get back into this game but the guys stuck to it. It took a team effort, we used a lot of players and put guys in the best situation possible we thought and then we had some guys really come through; a guy like Luke Mann who we're relying on to come through all year. So, just an outstanding job today.”
UP NEXT
Mizzou continues its road trip with a Wednesday, Feb. 23, contest at Southern. First pitch against the Jaguars is slated for 6 p.m.
