The Missouri Tigers are still searching for their first SEC win of the 2025 season. After 18 conference games, they remain winless, sitting at 13-26 overall and 0-18 in league play. The struggles haven’t just come at the plate—poor pitching and sloppy defense have also played a role.
The Tigers struggled once again in their series against No. 16 Oklahoma, getting swept and falling by run rule in all three games. It marked the second time this season they've suffered three run-rule losses in a single SEC series, the first coming against Arkansas in a Saturday doubleheader and finale earlier this year.
Game 1 - 17-4 (8 innings)
In the series opener, Missouri’s bullpen faltered, allowing the game to slip out of reach.
After starter Brady Kehlenbrink exited following four innings with the game tied at 3, junior reliever Brock Lucas gave up a run in the fifth before Oklahoma broke things open with a five-run sixth, taking a 9-3 lead.
Kehlenbrink’s final line: 4 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 59 TP
Missouri’s bats had no answer as Oklahoma continued to pour on the runs. The Sooners followed their five-run sixth inning with two more in the seventh and tacked on six in the eighth, stretching the lead even further.
All eight of those runs came off just two Missouri relievers—Seth McCartney and Ben Smith—who each allowed four runs. The outburst pushed the Sooners’ lead to 17-4, sealing a run-rule victory. It marked the Tigers’ eighth run-rule loss of the season.
Missouri managed to scratch across a few runs, but it was nothing compared to the firepower in Oklahoma’s dugout. Jackson Lovich put the Tigers on the board with an RBI single in the third, but the momentum never shifted in their favor.
The Tigers added two unearned runs in the fourth, both scoring on a misplay by the Sooners’ right fielder, briefly tying the game at 3. Their final run came in the seventh, when Keegan Knutson’s one-out triple set up Jackson Lovich for his second RBI of the day on a sacrifice fly.
The Tigers managed just five hits in the game, with only two players reaching base twice—both via walks. Still, they showed a slightly more disciplined approach at the plate, striking out only six times as a team.
Brock Lucas (1-4) took the loss for Missouri, while Oklahoma starter Cade Crossland (3-2) earned the win.
The Tigers had to quickly put the loss behind them, as Saturday’s game was postponed due to weather, forcing them into their sixth doubleheader of the season.
Game 2 - 17-7 (8 innings)
Two games, two 17-run outbursts against Missouri pitching. For most teams, scoring seven runs would be enough to win—but not for Mizzou.
Oklahoma broke through against Missouri starter Kaden Jacobi after two scoreless innings, scoring four runs in both the third and fourth to take an 8-0 lead by the bottom of the fourth.
Missouri answered with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. After Jackson Lovich led off with a walk, sophomore Kaden Peer delivered his fourth home run of the season, a shot over the right-field wall that cut the deficit to 8-2.
The scoring picked up for both sides starting in the sixth. Oklahoma added a run off Missouri reliever Victor Christal, but the Tigers responded in the bottom half with two of their own—a Pierre Seals RBI groundout followed by a Brock Daniels RBI single.
Kaden Jacobi’s final line: 4 IP, 9 H, 8 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 73 TP
Both teams added two runs in the seventh, keeping the game within reach for Missouri. Heading into the eighth, the Tigers trailed 11-6—but the Sooners quickly widened the gap from there.
Between Victor Christal and Cayden Nicoletto, Missouri allowed nine runs over 2.2 innings, forcing the Tigers to turn to sophomore Jaylen Merchant to stop the bleeding. By the end of the eighth, Mizzou trailed 17-6.
Brock Daniels led off the bottom of the eighth with a solo home run, but it wasn’t enough to extend the game. The Tigers fell 17-7 in eight innings, their second straight run-rule loss of the day.
Despite the struggles on the mound, Missouri showed more life at the plate in Game 2, finishing with 10 hits and seven runs. Kaden Peer led the way with his third three-hit game of the season, while Brock Daniels and designated hitter Gehrig Goldbeck each added two hits.
The seven runs Missouri scored matched their second-highest total in a loss this season—a reflection of a recurring issue. As has been said time and again: the problem lies with the pitching.
Kaden Jacobi (2-6) took the loss for Missouri, while Oklahoma’s Kyson Witherspoon (7-2) earned the win.
Game 3 - 12-2 (7 innings)
Just 40 minutes after the final pitch of Game 2, the teams were back on the field for the nightcap of the doubleheader—and the Sooners wasted no time. Missouri starter Tony Neubeck didn’t record an out before surrendering a three-run homer that gave Oklahoma an early lead in the first inning.
Oklahoma tacked on another two-out solo home run before the inning ended, taking a 4-0 lead into the bottom of the first. Missouri looked to respond, with Jackson Lovich driving in a run with an RBI single to make it 4-1. But the Sooners quickly answered with another four-run burst in the top of the second, stretching their lead to 8-1.
Missouri’s only hit after the second inning came in the third, when Lovich led off with a single. From that point on, the Tigers were no-hit over the final four innings, while Oklahoma continued to pile on. The Sooners added one run in both the fourth and fifth innings, then scored two more in the seventh to make it 12-1, securing their third run-rule win over Missouri in just two days.
Tony Neubeck’s final line: 1.2 IP, 5 H, 8 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 47 TP
The Tigers' three-hit performance was their second-worst offensive showing of the season, trailing only two games in which they managed just two hits. They've also scored only one run in a game just twice this year.
On the other side, Malachi Witherspoon—the identical twin brother of Game 2 winner Kyson Witherspoon—dominated the Tigers in similar fashion. He struck out 11 and walked just two over his outing, keeping Missouri’s offense quiet all night.
Tony Neubeck (0-2) took the loss for Missouri, while Malachi Witherspoon (3-4) earned the win for Oklahoma.
Overall:
It was a rough weekend for the Tigers. After what felt like a much-needed sigh of relief in their midweek win over Missouri State, Missouri couldn’t carry that momentum into SEC play. They were overmatched against a top-25 Oklahoma squad and never truly in any of the three games. While the Tigers have found some success outside the conference—riding a five-game nonconference win streak—their pitching continues to unravel in SEC play, keeping them winless in league action.
The Tigers will travel to Springfield on Tuesday for a rematch with Missouri State in the second game of their home-and-home series. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. and will be available on ESPN+.