After taking the series opener with an 8-4 win, Missouri dropped the final two games against No. 22 Tennessee, including a 7-1 loss in Sunday’s finale.
The game began as a pitching duel, with each team allowing just one run early, but Tennessee pulled away with a four-run fourth inning.
Missouri starter Brady Kehlenbrink allowed his first run in the opening inning when Tennessee center fielder Blaine Brown stole home. Kehlenbrink settled in after, but the Volunteers broke through in the fourth with a double and a single that led to a sacrifice fly and a two-out, two-run home run to make it 4-0.
Kehlenbrink tossed two more scoreless innings and finished with four runs allowed on five hits over six innings.
Reliever Trey Lawrence entered in the seventh and surrendered three runs on three hits. Tennessee added its final runs on a two-out, two-run homer in the eighth to extend the lead to 7-1.
Missouri’s lone run came in the sixth inning when right fielder Pierre Seals launched a 419-foot solo home run, his second of the series.
Outside of Seals’ homer, Missouri managed just three additional hits, with center fielder Kaden Peer and designated hitter Jase Woita combining for those. The Tigers stranded six runners and were retired in order four times.
Missouri (16-8, 1-5 SEC) will return home to face Illinois at 6 p.m. Tuesday in O’Fallon, Missouri, in the Braggin’ Rights game.