Ryan Howard (photo/Mizzou Athletics)

Ryan Howard (photo/Mizzou Athletics)

The Missouri Tigers lost 6-5 in ten innings to the LSU Tigers on Sunday in their best showing against the number one team in the country.  After losing the first two games of the series by a combined 10-5 the bats came out swinging in the first inning, jumping out to a 3-0 lead on a homer by Josh Lester.

Sophomore Ryan Howard extended his hit-streak to 10 consecutive games with a single in the first inning. He finish with three hits on the day, including a homer in the top of the sixth to tie the game a 4-4.

Mizzou put runners on the corners with one out in the 10th. Howard grounded out to short and Lester was intentionally walked to load the bases for Trey Harris, but the freshman hit into a 5-3 double play to end the threat.  LSU used three singles in the bottom of the 10th to walk off with the victory.

The Tigers have lost just three SEC series all season, all three coming to teams that have been ranked No. 1 on the season at some point.  The Tigers lost in late March to top ranked Texas A & M, losing two out of three and were swept by defending national champion Vanderbilt in late April.

Mizzou is 28-24 overall and 14-13 in the SEC.  While they are just a game over .500 in the standings, the Tigers sit in third place behind Florida and Vandy in the east.  The Tigers host their final series of the season with Kentucky.

SEC Standings

The SEC Tournament will begin May 19 in Hoover, Alabama.