For 3 1/2 innings Tuesday, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff baseball team kept within striking distance against an SEC foe.
Missouri broke the game open afterward, racing past UAPB for a 25-10 win in seven innings at Taylor Stadium in Columbia, Mo.
UAPB (5-24) trailed 5-4 entering the bottom of the fourth inning. The Golden Lions had tied the game at one in the second on an RBI single by third baseman Brant Voth.
Missouri (10-17) scored four runs in the bottom half to retake the lead, but UAPB first baseman Ben VanMaanen and shortstop Jesus Riera drove in runs in the third. VanMaanen added another RBI in the fourth to cut the deficit to one.
The Tigers broke the game open with a 10-run bottom of the fourth, then added nine runs in the fifth. Mizzou shortstop Jackson Lovich hit a grand slam in the fourth, and catcher Mateo Serna hit a three-RBI triple in the fifth.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
A 6-run top of the sixth by UAPB wasn’t enough to avoid the run rule.
Lovich finished with eight RBI on 3 of 4 hitting with three runs to lead Mizzou. Third baseman Chris Patterson hit 2 for 4 with four RBI and three runs. The Tigers tallied 16 hits and drew 12 walks with UAPB pitchers hitting seven batters with pitches.
The Golden Lions tallied 10 hits, led by left fielder Gavin Terry’s 3 for 5 with two RBI and a run. UAPB drew seven walks.
UAPB and Missouri will finish their two-game midweek series in Columbia on Wednesday at 7 p.m. on the SEC Network.