3 weeks ago
Mizzou shot returns to Columbia this play looking for a needed rest, and its force coming into Columbia — nan Vanderbilt Commodores — are trying to navigate their ain late‑season slide.
The Tigers will person to tangle pinch nan Commodores this upcoming week successful a three-game play set. Mizzou is successful hunt of an SEC sweep, an accomplishment by nan past 2 seasons nether coach Kerrick Jackson. The three-game expanse successful College Station against nan Texas A&M Aggies was nan lone 3 SEC victories picked up by Jackson’s squad successful nan 2025 season. They’ve crossed that people this play and are looking to adhd connected much down nan location agelong successful 2026.
The Tigers precocious dropped each 3 games astatine No. 5 Georgia, a bid that swung connected early missed chances for Missouri and precocious large innings for nan Bulldogs. Mizzou (21–26, 4–20 SEC) opened nan play pinch 1 of its champion pitching performances of nan year, and nan Bulldogs batted astir successful nan last 2 matchups, closing nan group pinch a brace of run‑rule victories.
Margo Jenkins
Vanderbilt arrives aft being swept astatine Alabama, a consequence that efficaciously unopen nan doorway connected immoderate postseason way extracurricular of nan SEC Tournament. The Commodores did respond pinch a midweek triumph complete Louisville, while their SEC shape has been uneven for respective weeks.
The communicative for Mizzou past Friday was Josh McDevitt. The right‑hander worked heavy into nan game, scattered 4 hits, and kept Georgia’s power‑heavy lineup quiet until nan mediate innings. Missouri put postulation connected nan bases respective times but couldn’t move those opportunities into runs, and Georgia yet collapsed done late.
McDevitt has been a agleam spot for nan unit each season, consistently holding opponents to 4 hits aliases less successful 9 of his 12 starts. According to MU Athletics, nan right-hander has eclipsed 10 strikeouts aliases much successful 10 of his outings.
“You can’t inquire for thing much against 1 of nan apical violative teams successful nan country,” Jackson said to Tiger-Radio post-game past Friday. “He comes retired and does his job, and we can’t scratch immoderate runs crossed its not acceptable.”
Saturday brought much discourtesy for nan Tigers and yet nan aforesaid outcome. Brady Kehlenbrink struck retired six successful 4 innings, and nan Tigers answered pinch solo location runs from Kam Durnin, Donovan Jordan, and Jase Woita. Georgia countered pinch dependable scoring of its ain and pulled distant successful nan seventh and eighth innings successful its ascendant 13-3 eight-inning run-rule victory.
Margo Jenkins
Sunday’s finale unraveled much quickly. Keyler Gonzalez made his first commencement arsenic a Tiger and opened pinch a scoreless inning earlier Georgia stacked 9 runs crossed nan adjacent 2 frames. Durnin homered twice, giving him 3 successful a five‑at‑bat span, and Jordan and Woita each drove successful a run, but nan Bulldogs kept power nan remainder of nan way.
Across nan weekend, Durnin didn’t spell unnoticed successful his 5-for-10 clip pinch 3 location runs. Woita earned his 50th deed of nan play and earned astatine slightest 1 deed successful each crippled successful Athens.
VANDERBILT’S CURRENT SITUATION
The Commodores participate COMO astatine 27–22 wide and a 10–14 people successful SEC play, a tumultuous play for nan program. Their three-game expanse astatine Alabama pushed them retired of NCAA at‑large consideration, and nan finale successful Tuscaloosa summed up their caller issues: a five‑run first inning allowed by starter Wyatt Nadeau, followed by a scramble from nan unit to support nan crippled wrong reach. Colin Barczi’s three‑run homer provided a spark, and Braden Holcomb and Ryker Waite added RBIs while N0. 19-ranked Alabama yet stayed successful beforehand throughout.
Vanderbilt’s midweek triumph complete Louisville showed nan different broadside of its personality. After falling down 4–0, nan Commodores unloaded 11 unanswered runs. Mike Mancini homered twice, Barczi added a go‑ahead three‑run shot, and Logan Johnstone drove successful three. They besides sewage a cleanable inning from Matthew Shorey, who struck retired nan broadside successful his play debut.
Even pinch nan inconsistency, Vanderbilt’s lineup tin flip an inning quickly. Barczi has homered successful consecutive games, Mancini is coming disconnected a two‑homer night, and respective hitters person shown nan expertise to move a correction transportation into damage. At nan hitter-friendly Taylor Stadium, a homer-friendly squad is ever a threat.
Vanderbilt’s pitching image is little settled. Nadeau struggled successful his astir caller start, and nan Commodores leaned heavy connected their bullpen successful nan Alabama series. Their offense, nevertheless still remains tin of turning a quiet crippled into a abrupt showdown, grounds by its location tally count and nan brace of Missouri starters, JD Dohrmann connected nan wounded study leaves them much susceptible from a extent perspective.
This will beryllium Mizzou’s last location SEC bid arsenic good arsenic Vandy’s first travel backmost to Taylor Stadium since April 8, 2023. First transportation for nan bid opener is scheduled for Friday, 6:00 p.m. astatine Taylor Stadium.
