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O'FALLON, Mo. – Jordan Tokarz homered en route to a three-RBI effort and Ross Jeske and Tyler Brandon shined in relief, but Eastern Illinois baseball could not overcome fourth-ranked Missouri's seven-run first inning in an 8-6 loss to the Tigers Tuesday evening at T.R. Hughes Ballpark.

 

Tokarz homered and tripled in his first two at-bats, respectively. After hitting a solo shot in the first, Eastern's second baseman plated a pair of runners with a triple in the third.

 

Tristan Facer also homered en route to a two-hit night, leading off the ninth inning with solo shot to right center.

 

The Panthers (18-19) scored in each of the first three innings to cut Mizzou's lead to 7-5, but collected only four hits after the third inning.

 

Jeske took over for starter Josh Mueller (4-4) with two down in the first inning. The left-hander kept the Tigers (29-10) off balance and surrendered just one run on two hits over 4 1/3 innings. He struck out three.

 

Brandon pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth and then set the Tigers down in order in the seventh. He also struck out three, including Mizzou's team-leader in home runs and RBIs, Jacob Priday, with an impressive fast ball. The right-hander lowered his nation-best ERA to 0.69.

 

Missouri capitalized on four first-inning walks by Mueller. Both outs the freshman recorded were via the strikeout. However, after issuing a bases-loaded walk to force in the second run of the inning, the No. 8 and 9 hitters in the Mizzou lineup burned him. Andrew Thigpen plated a pair with a single to center field. Kyle Mach then took advantage of the cozy dimensions in right field and hit a three-run homer over the 325-feet sign.

 

Jordan Kreke collected EIU's other RBI with a sacrifice fly in the third that plated Tokarz. Facer scored in the second inning when the Mizzou first baseman failed to catch a pickoff throw at first base. Facer and Cameron Strang both singled in the inning.

 

Richie Derbak registered a pair of singles but was thrown out a second base in the sixth trying to stretch the first of his two hits into a double. Ryan Lindquist, meanwhile, was able to cruise into second base in the seventh after hitting a fly ball about 12-feet up off the 36-foot wall in right.

The Panthers return to action Wednesday for a 6 p.m. game at Bradley.