The Missouri Tigers’ baseball team has stumbled to a 6-6 start in their second season under head coach Kerrick Jackson, a record that falls short of what’s needed to build a strong case for an NCAA Tournament bid. After splitting a home series against MVC opponent Evansville last weekend, the Tigers are in dire need of confidence and momentum as they prepare for the grueling SEC schedule. Their midweek game against SEMO was postponed on Tuesday, but they’ll look to regroup this weekend with a four-game series against Binghamton, featuring a doubleheader on Saturday.
Binghamton Overview
Head Coach: Tim Sinicki
2025 Record: 3-6
Binghamton, picked to finish second in the America East preseason poll behind Bryant, boasts four Preseason All-Conference players: catcher Zach Rogacki, third baseman Devin Bade, designated hitter Evin Sullivan, and reliever Jackson Mitchell.
The Bears have had a rocky start to the season, going 3-6. They were swept in their opening series at Texas State but rebounded to win two of three at Elon. After a 3-2 victory over Siena on February 28th, Binghamton dropped back-to-back games at East Tennessee State, including a 10-0 loss in eight innings on Sunday.
Team Leaders:
- Batting Average: Zach Rogacki (.355)
- Home Runs: Matt Bolton, Logan Haskell, Devan Bade (2 each)
- RBI: Zack Kent and Evin Sullivan (7 each)
- ERA: Ryan Packard (1.20)
- Strikeouts: Packard (14)
Probable Pitching Matchups
- Friday: Ian Loshe (0-3, 3.86 ERA) vs. Ryan Packard (2-1, 1.20 ERA)
- Saturday Game 1: Kadden Drew (2-1, 3.38 ERA) vs. Collin Rhein (0-3, 5.79 ERA)
- Saturday Game 2: Kaden Jacobi (2-0, 4.40 ERA) vs. Brady Bouchard (1-1, 9.82 ERA)
- Sunday: Wil Libbert (1-1, 5.59 ERA) vs. TBA
Note: These matchups are projections and subject to change.
Keys to a Series Win
Missouri’s pitching must improve significantly. The Tigers currently rank last in the SEC with a 6.88 ERA, a glaring weakness exacerbated by the season-ending Tommy John surgery to ace Javyn Pimental. Despite the presence of renowned pitching coach Tim Jamieson, the staff has yet to find its footing.
Offensively, the Tigers have been inconsistent, with notable struggles against Penn State, UCF, and Alabama State. However, the bats have shown signs of life recently. Sophomore Kaden Peer leads the team with a .341 batting average, while freshman Brady Picarelli tops the squad with three home runs and 14 RBI. Veterans like Brock Daniels and Jackson Lovich need to step up to make the lineup more dangerous.
Series Expectation (Three out of Four)
While Missouri has more talent on paper, their struggles against lesser competition—such as the Evansville split and the loss to Alabama State—raise concerns. A sweep seems unlikely, but the Tigers should aim to take at least three out of four games against Binghamton to build momentum before SEC play begins.
This series is a critical opportunity for Missouri to address their weaknesses and prove they can compete as the season progresses. If they fail to capitalize, their postseason hopes could be in jeopardy.
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