One Pepperdine batter was all that starting pitcher Mitch Kiler needed to get through in order to preserve the Tigers’ one-run lead in the fourth inning.

One hit with the bases loaded was all the Tigers needed to score the game-tying and go-ahead runs in the sixth inning.

Daniel Haren’s two-run home run over the center field wall was all the offense the Waves needed yesterday to save face and escape Columbia with one win in the weekend series, beating the Tigers 2-1.

The decisive fourth inning began with a pop fly and a double down the left field line from Tony Garcia of Pepperdine (16-7). With two outs and Garcia at second, Haren smacked the ball hard, but with the wind coming in on Simmons Field, it appeared to be coming back into play.

"The wind was blowing in and we make one bad pitch. I didn’t think it was gone," said Missouri coach Tim Jamieson. "When the ball went off the bat, I thought it would have been a double. But it left the ballpark."

With the Missouri (11-9-1) bats accounting for 22 runs on 17 hits against Pepperdine in a doubleheader sweep Saturday, the Tiger faithful at Taylor Stadium were hoping for a Missouri comeback.

In the fifth inning Tiger designated hitter Cody Ehlers doubled with one out. With a man in scoring position, Luke Cassis struck out looking and Jayce Tingler grounded out to end the inning.

The sixth provided even more opportunities. Jon Williams hit a lead off single to center and Ryan Stegall was hit by a pitch in the next at bat.

After a failed sacrifice bunt and a strikeout, W.T. Hoover walked to load the bases for Kurt Propst, but the third baseman flied out to third to end the inning.

"We had our chances, especially in the sixth inning," Stegall said. "When you miss chances, they’re going to go ahead."

Lee Laskowski, who continued his torrid hitting pace since replacing injured right fielder Wes Fewell earlier in the week, singled to right field to start the bottom of the ninth. Following a sacrifice bunt, the Tigers had a man in scoring position with one out but two pop flies from Propst and Ehlers sealed the game.

"In a 2-1 game you only get one or two shots and we didn’t take advantage of it," Jamieson said.

Kiler (0-1) pitched well for Missouri, going five innings and allowing only three hits, but the two in the fourth cost him the game.

Logan Dale provided the relief, allowing two hits in four shutout innings.

Pepperdine’s Jay Adams (3-1) picked up the win on five hits in nine innings of work.

"Adams just mixed it well," Jamieson said. "He threw a lot of strikes and the couple of opportunities we did have he beared down and made good pitches."

MU hosts Western Illinois in a two-game series, starting tomorrow night. Opening pitch will be at 7.