Baseball Tops In-State Rival Missouri State with Dominant Bullpen Performance

Tuesday, April 7

Columbia, Mo.

6 P.M.

Missouri

20-14

Missouri State

21-10

Missouri State

Missouri

Keyler Gonzalez vs Mo State, April 7, 2026

Baseball Tops In-State Rival Missouri State with Dominant Bullpen Performance

4/7/2026 10:31:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Postgame Media

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou baseball defeated in-state rival Missouri State, 5-2, on Tuesday evening at Taylor Stadium behind a dominant bullpen performance from junior RHP Keyler Gonzalez.

Gonzalez was electric out of the bullpen for the Tigers (20-14, 3-9 SEC), throwing six scoreless innings and allowing just a pair of hits while punching out a DI career-high nine Missouri State (21-10, 9-3 CUSA) batters to keep one of the nation's most potent offenses in check. Birthday boy Donovan Jordan slugged a three-run blast into the Mizzou bullpen in the bottom of the third inning to give the Tigers a 5-2 lead they would not relinquish.

Mo State was able to plate a run to take an early lead in the first inning on a bases-loaded HBP, but the Tigers bounced back in the bottom of the inning with a two-out single off the bat of reigning SEC Freshman of the Week Blaize Ward, bringing Kam Durnin in to score from second. Ward came home on another clutch two-out hit off the bat of Jase Woita to give Mizzou a one-run lead.

Ward's single in the first extended his hit-streak to seven games and on-base streak to 15 games while Woita's single grew his on-base streak to 29-consecutive contests – the longest streak by a Tiger this season.

The Bears were able to even the score at 2-2 in the second inning when a run came in to score on a wild pitch.

Mizzou jumped back on top in the third with Jordan's three-run shot (349 ft.) into the Tiger bullpen for his second homer of the season, scoring Pierre Seals and Woita to put the Tigers up 5-2.

LHP Jackson Sobel started on the mound for the Tigers, allowing two runs on three hits before being relieved by Gonzalez, who tossed six scoreless innings (DI career high). The Cuban-born righty gave up just two hits en route to punching out nine Bears, retiring 10-straight batters at one point from the sixth to the ninth.

RHP Trey Lawrence entered to record the final out in the ninth and earned the save to give Mizzou the 5-2 victory.

NOTEBOOK

The Bears came into the matchup rated 11th nationally in RPI with a top-25 strength of schedule, also cracking Perfect Game's Top 25 this week at No. 23.
Jordan led the Tigers' offense, going 1-for-3 with the go-ahead three-run shot in the third for his second big fly of the season.
With an RBI single in the first, Woita has now reached base safely in 29-consecutive games.
Ward finished the day 1-for-3 with a single and an RBI, extending his on-base streak to 15 games. He has now recorded a hit in seven straight and 13 of his last 14 games.
Kaden Peer managed to draw a walk in the fourth to extend his on-base streak to 22 games.
Gonzalez was lights out in relief, throwing six scoreless frames where he gave up just two hits and struck out nine batters (one walk).
Lawrence earned his first save as a Tiger, recording the final out of the win.
Third baseman Keegan Knutson was on base twice with a single and a walk.

The Tigers will host South Carolina in a three-game Southeastern Conference series beginning on Thursday evening at 7 p.m. CT (ESPNU). Game two of the three-game set is scheduled for Friday at 6 p.m. CT (SECN+), followed by the series finale on Saturday at 2 p.m. CT (SECN+). All games can also be streamed on the Varsity Network by Learfield, with longtime Mizzou play-by-play announcer Tex Little on the call and Matt Michaels providing color.

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