University of Missouri
Missouri State
Tigers Topped by MO State, 5-2
4/27/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 27, 2011
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Eric Garcia homered for the second straight game, but the Mizzou baseball team fell to in-state rival Missouri State, 5-2, on Wednesday night (April 27) at Taylor Stadium. Mizzou jumped out to a 2-0 lead on a laser home run to right center by Garcia in the third inning, but was unable to hold onto the lead. The home run for Garcia was his second of the season, giving him homers in back-to-back games after homering last night against Eastern Illinois.
Senior lefty Kelly Fick gave up a go-ahead two-run home run in the fourth to Missouri State first baseman Luke Voit, putting the Bears up for good as Fick was tagged with the loss. He pitched two innings and gave up three hits, but unfortunately one was the two-run shot by Voit. Freshman pitcher Myles Smith was the bright spot for the Tiger pitchers on Wednesday, throwing 1.2 innings of no-hit baseball while striking out two. Starter Jeff Scardino went 4.0 innings and scattered just four hits but was charged with a pair of earned runs.
Garcia led the Tigers at the plate, going 2-4 with a run scored and a pair of RBI. Junior and reigning Big 12 Player of the Week Conner Mach also had a nice day at the plate, going 2-4 with a run scored and a walk. But aside from those two - who accounted for four hits, two runs and two RBI - the Tiger offense pounded out just three more hits as it was unable to tack on more runs.
Missouri State's Jake Powers earned the win after throwing 3.2 innings of two-hit baseball while striking out three Tiger batters. Dan Kickham earned his ninth save of the season in relief of Powers.
The Tigers will be back in action this weekend as they host No. 6 Texas A&M at Taylor Stadium for a three-game Big 12 series. The games will begin Friday at 6 p.m. For all the latest on Mizzou Baseball, stay tuned to MUTigers.com or follow the team on twitter @MUTigerBaseball.
