COLUMBIA, Mo. – Jackson Lovich’s grand slam punctuated a 10-run fourth inning that turned a one-run University of Missouri baseball lead into a runaway 25-10 victory for the Tigers in the opening game of their non-conference series with Arkansas-Pine Bluff Tuesday evening at Taylor Stadium.
Lovich’s critical home run with one out in the fourth highlighted an eight-RBI performance for the junior infielder, as Mizzou (10-17) turned a 5-4 lead into an 11-run cushion that the visiting Golden Lions would not be able to overcome. Lovich finished 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and three runs scored while coming within one RBI of the program’s single-game record, shared by Jacob Priday and Brian Sharp.
The Tigers jumped on top with the game’s first run in the opening inning, thanks to Lovich’s first hit – a one-out double. Mizzou added four more in the home half of the second, as Lovich drove in his first two runs with a two-out double after a UAPB error extended the inning.
UAPB (5-24) chipped away at the MU lead with a run in the second, two in the third an another in the fourth to pull to within 5-4.
Mizzou’s momentum-swinging rally in the fourth started with a Lovich ground out. The next 10 batters would reach base safely, however, with Pierre Seals opening the scoring by drawing a bases-loaded walk, followed by two-run singles from Chris Patterson and Peyton Basler. Next, Gehrig Goldbeck drew a walk to load the bases, setting the stage for Lovich’s towering 420-foot blast that caromed off a light tower in left-center field for a 14-4 Mizzou lead.
The Tigers put the game on ice with nine more runs in the fifth, taking advantage of six walks and four hit batsmen to stretch the margin to 24-4. Lovich added two RBIs via bases-loaded walks during the rally, and Mateo Serna cleared the bases with a three-run triple to cap the outburst.
Patterson drove in two more runs over Mizzou’s final two turns at-bat to give the freshman a career-best four RBIs on a 2-for-4 performance. Basler also logged a career night, going 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs and four runs scored, while Kaden Peer reached base safely in three of his four trips to the plate, finishing with two RBIs, two runs scored and his eighth stolen base of the season.
UAPB tallied six runs in the sixth but never got closer than within 14 runs of the Tigers. Kadden Drew closed out the victory with an inning-and-a-third of scoreless relief.
The Tigers’ 25-run performance marked their top total since a 28-10 victory over Northern Kentucky on March 2, 2023.
TIGER NOTEBOOK
- With the victory, the Tigers improved to 7-1 all-time vs. UAPB.
- Lovich increased his team-leading statistical totals to seven home runs and 33 RBIs, while raising his season batting mark to a club-best .373.
- Lovich has hit .471 (16-of-34) over his last eight contests (since March 21), securing his team-leading 12th multi-hit game of the campaign.
- Lovich’s eight RBIs is the most by a Tiger since Sharp drove in nine runs vs. Northwestern on Feb. 24, 2018.
- Peer (1-for-2) has now reached base safely via a hit, walk, or hit by pitch in 20 consecutive games, while extending his hit streak to seven games.
- Patterson registered a season and career-high two hits and four RBIs and now has at least one hit in three consecutive contests.
- Wil Libbert matched his career-best single-game total of seven strikeouts on the mound.
- Brock Daniels recorded his seventh multi-hit game of 2025 with a 2-for-4 night.
- At the plate, 10 different Tiger bats recorded a hit for the first time since a 13-1 win over Lindenwood on April 30, 2024.
- Of the 53 MU batters that came to the plate, 35 reached base safely (16 hits, 12 walks and seven HBPs).
- MU’s seven HBPs marked its best single-game total since March 2, 2023 vs. Northern Kentucky.
- Mizzou also logged its fifth single-game total of 15 hits or more this season, as well as its 16th double-digit hit total of 2025.
UP NEXT
Mizzou and UAPB will conclude their two-game series Wednesday evening with a 7 p.m. contest that will be televised on SEC Network.
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