Can Missouri baseball get out of 0-and hole? Challenges stacking as injuries, losses mount

Missouri baseball coach Kerrick Jackson's options are running thin.

In the top of the third inning of a 15-4, seven-inning, run-rule loss to No. 7 Texas — Mizzou’s seventh straight defeat in SEC play — on Friday night in Columbia, starting left-handed pitcher Ian Lohse came off the mound with an undisclosed injury. The severity of the injury is unknown.

If it’s significant, is that the feather that will break the back of this reeling, banged-up Tigers ball club?

“I'll be checking to see if you have any eligibility left,” Jackson told this beat reporter.

Even in dire straits, I can’t advise that in good conscience, Coach.

But that's the hand Jackson is working with.

Mizzou is 14-19 on the season and off to an 0-7 start in SEC play. That’s tied at the bottom of the league with Florida, and the forecast isn’t all too bright.

Injuries are everywhere, and the SEC is unforgiving.

Starting shortstop Gehrig Goldbeck, a Gold Glove winner at the junior college level, had to get Tommy John surgery before the season and now can only play in a hitting capacity. Backup Blake Simpson has a fractured finger, per Jackson, and hasn’t played lately.

The shortstop shortage has moved freshman Trey Lawrence, who Jackson said he’s seen top 94 and throw a “nice slider,” off the mound and into the infield. Mizzou is still searching for an answer at both of those positions.

The Tigers’ bullpen is ravaged and struggling.

Starting lefty Javyn Pimenthal already is out for the season. Missouri football quarterback and baseball ace Sam Horn missed three weeks to participate in Eli Drinkwitz’s spring camp, and isn’t quite ready to return to the mound. Daniel Wissler and Josh McDevitt are among the pitchers Jackson is hoping can return and make some appearances “in the next few weeks.”

Jackson began the season, in an interview with the Tribune, with a note of optimism. He’d seen enough in the fall and winter to think Missouri could be more competitive than it was last season, when the Tigers missed the SEC Tournament.

With the expansion of the conference to 16 teams, Mizzou isn’t in danger of missing a postseason. It is, however, in danger of falling far short of Jackson’s judgment.

“I thought we were going to score runs,” Jackson said Friday. “I thought that we were going to be really defensive; we were going to be able to play defense. And pitching was something that I knew was going to be a little bit of a challenge for specifically coming into it, knowing we're going to have some guys down. The offensive part of it, it took us a while to get going, but we've been scoring runs. Obviously today we didn't put up as many as we have, but we were still productive.”

Mizzou and Texas adjusted their series to prepare for the possibility of inclement weather Sunday. The Tigers and the Longhorns will now play a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. Saturday, with the third and final game of the series to be played 45 minutes after the day’s opening game concludes.

The Tigers have a lot to overcome, and it only got worse against Texas as Lohse, the Friday night starter, became the latest injury scare.

Is there a chance it gets better?

Missouri might need some good news, and soon, to get there.

“We're still in a position, depending on what happens with the pitching and what we get back with some of these other guys,” Jackson said. “Again, we're playing and we're scoring runs. What that means on the back end of it — you know, I don't know. I mean, this league is this league, right? I mean, we're not the only ones that are sitting here at 0-7 or minimal wins in conference, and it just takes something to click in order for us to be able to, kind of catch hold and be able to take off. 

“So I believe that we're on the verge of being able to do some really good things. … There's some real good upside still in the program. It's just a matter of, can we string everything together and just start playing good baseball.”

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Can Missouri baseball get out of 0-and hole? Challenges are stacking