Mizzou Baseball Secures Two Wins, One Loss in Season-Opening Series

The Tigers kicked off the 2026 season with a mix of dominant and disappointing performances.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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The Missouri Tigers baseball team opened their 2026 season with a 2-1 record in a three-game series against Mount St. Mary's. After a shocking 8-5 loss on Friday, the Tigers bounced back with a 5-4 win on Saturday and a dominant 34-3 victory on Sunday. Several players had standout performances, including graduate infielder Jase Woita and redshirt sophomore infielder Tyler Macon, who combined for 16 RBIs in the final game.

Why it matters

The opening series provided an early glimpse into the Tigers' potential for the 2026 season. While the team showed their ability to bounce back from a tough loss, the inconsistent performances raise questions about their ability to maintain consistency throughout the season.

The details

In the season opener on Friday, the Tigers led 5-1 through three innings but surrendered seven unanswered runs to lose 8-5. Graduate pitcher Javyn Pimental made his first appearance in over a year, pitching five innings and allowing one run. On Saturday, Missouri secured a 5-4 win, with senior shortstop Gehrig Goldbeck driving in two runs. The Tigers then exploded for 34 runs on Sunday, led by Woita's six hits, eight RBIs, and a home run, and Macon's eight RBIs.

  • The series took place over the opening weekend of the 2026 season.
  • The Tigers lost their season opener on Friday, February 14.
  • Missouri won their second game on Saturday, February 15.
  • The Tigers dominated in the series finale on Sunday, February 16, winning 34-3.

The players

Jase Woita

A graduate infielder who led the Tigers' offensive onslaught in the final game, recording six hits, eight RBIs, and a home run.

Tyler Macon

A redshirt sophomore infielder who also had a standout performance in the series finale, driving in eight runs and scoring three times.

Gehrig Goldbeck

A senior shortstop who drove in two runs in the Tigers' 5-4 win on Saturday.

Javyn Pimental

A graduate pitcher making his first appearance in over a year, starting the season opener and pitching five innings while allowing one run.

Brady Kehlenbrink

A sophomore pitcher who started and won the series finale, going five innings with six strikeouts and three earned runs.

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What they’re saying

“The opening weekend provided a mix of performances that will give us a lot to build on as we continue the season.”

— Head Coach Steve Bieser (Missouri Athletics)

What’s next

The Tigers will travel to Boca Raton, Florida to take on Florida Atlantic on Tuesday, February 18 at 5:30 PM. They will then head to Fort Myers for a three-game series against New Haven.

The takeaway

The Tigers' opening series showcased their offensive firepower, but also highlighted the need for more consistency as they look to build momentum heading into conference play. The team's ability to bounce back from a tough loss is a positive sign, but they'll need to find a way to replicate their dominant performance on a more regular basis.