Missouri Takes Series Finale, 8-3

UK dropped the rubber match to Missouri 8-3 and the overall series 2-1 on an error filled afternoon that knocked the Cats below .500 (7-8) in conference play at the halfway mark of the SEC season.  The Cats entered the ninth inning trailing by just one run but two costly errors, including a surefire double-play ball, allowed four Tigers to score to seal it for Mizzou who are in the SEC East cellar at 6-9 in SEC play and 17-17 on the season. "You make five errors on the weekend, the chances of winning go way down and clearly we threw it away today," head coach Gary Henderson said after the game.  "You have to play defense and you have to play at a high level and you can't give away outs and bases and we did that today and when you do, you're not going to win." Missouri got on the board first as the Tigers led off the third inning with a double down the rightfield line and took the lead on a one out RBI single by nine-hole hitter Jake Ring. Mizzou would tack on another after shortstop Matt Reida booted a taylor-made double play ball that allowed Ring to score from third. Third baseman Max Kuhn would get both runs back fort the Cats in the bottom half of the inning with his second two-RBI double of the weekend to score Reida, who ledoff the inning with a single, and Austin Cousino who was 3-for-5 on the afternoon after an 0-for-5 Saturday. Mizzou would take the lead right back in the top of the fourth on a two-out RBI single to make it 3-2 but A.J. Reed would match that in the bottom of the fifth with his own two-out RBI single, his SEC leading 48th of the season, to score Austin Cousino. The Tigers would take lead for good in the top of the sixth with another two-out RBI single to make it 4-3.  They would add four more in the ninth as the Cats gave away three outs in the final frame. Wildcat starter Andrew Nelson (1-3, 3.55 ERA) suffered his third loss of the season as he worked six innings, allowing four runs on then hits with two strikeouts on 92 pitches.  "I wasn't that disappointed in our pitching today," said Henderson.  "(Andrew) Nelson wasn't his best but he gave us the chance to win." The Cats will attempt to rebound Tuesday when they travel to Louisville for a 6pm match-up against UL. The Cats defeated the Cards 8-3 in Lexington two weeks ago.