COLUMBIA, Mo. – Vanderbilt could not capitalize during key moments at the plate, overshadowing a strong start from Drake Fellows in a series-opening 2-1 loss against Missouri on Thursday night at Taylor Stadium.
The biggest setback for the No. 10 Commodores (23-15, 9-7 SEC) occurred in the sixth inning when Jayson Gonzalez doubled to the warning track in right field, only to see Philip Clarke cut down by several feet at the plate.
Clarke roped a one-out double into left but was thrown out one batter later on the Gonzalez two-bagger via a 9-4-2 putout. Stephen Scott extended the inning, working a two-out walk but the Dores stranded two on a punch out.
After falling behind 1-0, Vanderbilt evened the game on an RBI-single from Austin Martin in the fifth inning. The hit was the third straight of the inning for Vandy and extended the freshman’s hit streak to 11-consecutive games.
Mizzou (26-12, 7-9 SEC) answered in the home half, taking advantage of a one-out error as Trey Harris punched a go-ahead, two-out single through the left side.
Fellows (4-3) retired the final seven batters he faced and matched a season high with nine strikeouts in the loss. The right-hander scattered four hits and permitted two runs (one earned) while matching a career-high 112 pitches. Reliever Tyler Brown needed just 10 pitches to retire the side in the eighth.
Missouri starter TJ Sikkema (3-3) fanned 10 while scattering seven hits and permitting just one run and walking two to pick up the win. Andy Toelken did not allow a hit in the final three frames and struck out four to secure the save.
Martin led the way for Vanderbilt, finishing 2-for-4 with an RBI. Five players recorded a hit including Alonzo Jones who scored the Commodores’ lone run. Four Missouri players totaled one hit on the night.
The Commodores, who have dropped four consecutive SEC series openers, look to even things up on Friday with the middle game set for 6:30 p.m. VU sends Patrick Raby (2-4, 2.90 ERA) to the mound against Mizzou left-hander Tyler LaPlante (4-2, 2.18 ERA). The game will be streamed on SEC Network Plus.
