April 9, 2002

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Hampered by a season-high 15 strikeouts, Missouri could not come up with a hit in the ninth inning in its 6-4 loss to Southwest Missouri State Tuesday night at Price Cutter Park. The Bears, ranked 27th by Collegiate Baseball, improved to 21-5 while the Tigers are now 14-17.

Missouri had the bases loaded with two outs in the ninth inning but saw the comeback chances fall short on a called strike three to end the game.

Missouri jumped out to a 2-0 lead after its turn at the plate in the first inning. Jayce Tingler and Bo Davis received back-to-back walks before stealing third and second base, respectively. Tingler scored on a passed ball before Davis scored on a single by Lee Laskowski for a 2-0 lead.

SMS scored four runs in its half of the third inning by taking advantage of an error, three walks and two hits, one being a bad-hop single that plated two runs.

The Bears' Randyn Saner hit a solo home run in the fourth inning to give SMS a 5-2 lead. The Tigers rallied with two runs in the fifth inning. Jody Roughton led off the inning with a double to left-center before Brent Lacy walked. Luke Cassis singled to left field to score Roughton. Tingler singled to right field to score Lacy and cut the lead to 5-4. SMS added a run in the fifth inning to make it 6-4.

Missouri will play nationally ranked Nebraska in a three-game Big 12 Conference series at Taylor Stadium/Simmons Field.