Just over four hours after the first pitch Wednesday, Missouri took its first lead of the night as it walked off the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
UAPB dropped the second game of a midweek baseball series against the Tigers 8-7 on an RBI single by Missouri second baseman Keegan Knutson at Taylor Stadium in Columbia, Missouri.
Missouri (11-17) never led until pinch runner Isaiah Frost scored from second base to end the game on Knutson’s hit. Frost entered the game for shortstop Jackson Lovich, who had reached on an error earlier in the inning. Knutson’s walk-off hit came on a 3-1 pitch with two outs as the Golden Lions were trying to reach extra innings.
The win gave the Tigers a two-game sweep of the Golden Lions after winning 25-10 in seven innings on Tuesday.
UAPB (5-25) led 5-0 midway through the second inning. The Golden Lions loaded the bases with two outs for left fielder Gavin Terry, who was hit by a pitch to score the game’s first run. Right fielder Dane Small followed with a bases-clearing double. He later scored on an RBI single by catcher Vinny Saumell to complete the big inning.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Mizzou chipped away, scoring 2 runs each of the next three innings, but UAPB did enough to still lead 7-6 by the time left-handed reliever Major Spence took over with two outs in the fourth.
Spence went on to pitch 2.1 scoreless innings without allowing a hit. He struck out one hitter with one walk to keep UAPB ahead. He turned pitching duties over to Brendan Hamlin to begin the seventh inning, who came close to pitching a scoreless seventh before centerfielder Kaden Peer hit a two-out RBI triple to tie the game at 7.
The 7-7 score remained until the walk-off hit despite both teams loading the bases in the eighth inning. UAPB had two runners on base with two outs in the top of the ninth but again missed an opportunity to retake the lead.
UAPB designated hitter Carlos Rodriguez-Velez hit 3 for 5, while Saumell and shortstop Jesus Riera each hit 2 for 4. Small’s 3 RBI led both teams.
Mizzou right fielder Pierre Seals hit 3 for 4 with 2 RBI, while Knutson hit 2 for 6 with 2 RBI.
Neither starting pitcher finished the first inning. Missouri pulled starter Daniel Wissler after retiring the first two batters of the game due to an apparent injury. UAPB replaced starter Jaedon Willis after he hit the first batter he faced with a pitch and walked the second. He also balked once.
The Tigers ultimately used eight pitchers, with right-hander Xavier Lovett (1-1) pitching two shutout innings to close the game.
UAPB threw six pitchers, including two weekend starters. After Hamlin pitched the seventh and eighth innings, typical Friday starter Kenney Fabian (1-5) pitched the ninth, striking out one hitter prior to giving up the winning unearned run.
Head coach Logan Stout’s decision to use two Friday starters comes as this week’s severe weather threatens the scheduled weekend series against Prairie View A&M in Pine Bluff. No decision had been announced by the end of Wednesday’s game, but the UAPB softball series against Alcorn State in Pine Bluff had already been pushed back to next Monday and Tuesday.