Season Statistics  

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missouri put up five runs in the third inning and held off a late Missouri State charge Tuesday at Taylor Stadium for a 6-5 victory in the first of a home-and-home series between the rivals over the next week.

The Bears out-hit the Tigers 9-5, but four of MU's six runs reached via a walk, including three in the pivotal third inning that included a two-run homer from Luke Mann, a two-run double and a wild pitch.

Five Missouri State (14-18) relievers held the Tigers (22-12) in check for the rest of the game, with only a two-out double from Mann in the sixth plating a run for the home team. Included in the relief effort was the return of Ty Buckner after a 13-month injury hiatus to strike out three Tigers in a scoreless fifth.

The Bears loaded the bases with nobody out in the fourth and plated runs courtesy of an RBI fielder's choice by Dakota Kotowski and RBI single from Jaden Rolffs.

Columbia native Spencer Nivens cut the deficit to 6-4 with a two-run homer in the seventh as part of a 2-for-4 day that extended his reached base streak to 27 games.

Nivens then started the rally in the ninth with a two-out walk, the first of four consecutive Bears to reach, making it a 6-5 game after Mason Greer walked to force in a run. MU reliever Ian Lohse struck out Kotowski on a 2-2 pitch to end it.

Walker Jenkins singled in the third inning to extend his hit streak to 11 games, and Drake Baldwin has now reached safely in 20 consecutive contests thanks to a single and a walk.

The Bears return to Missouri Valley Conference play with an April 22-24 series at Valparaiso (13-19, 2-4).