Mizzou lost to Western Illinois 5-3 on Tuesday night, dropping its third-consecutive game. It is the first three-game losing streak for the Tigers since dropping three straight March 25-30 of 2007.
Western Illinois scored three times in the top of the second inning. Two of the three runs scored in the second were unearned as a pair of Tiger errors aided WIU in the inning. In the third inning, the Leathernecks scored on a passed ball to make it a four-run lead. The lead was stretched for five in the fourth inning.
The Tigers cut into the Western Illinois lead with two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, loading the bases and getting a two-out single from junior Ryan Lollis. The Tigers added a run in the 9th on a sacrifice fly.
Junio Ryan Gargano pitched a career-long 5 2/3 scoreless innings in relief, striking out four. Senior Lee Fischer had a career-best three hits, finishing 3-for-4 on the night. The Tigers are now 20-6 on the year, but have lost four of their last five games.
