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O'FALLON, Mo. – Missouri scored five times on four hits and two walks in the third inning and the extended rally proved to be enough to defeat Eastern Illinois baseball, 10-2, Tuesday evening in a neutral-site contest played at T.R. Hughes Ballpark in Metro St. Louis.

The Panthers (11-27) loaded the bases before Mizzou (22-17) was able to record an out in the top of the first, but EIU only managed to score one run in that frame. A ground ball to shortstop off the bat of Cam Strang allowed pinch runner Daniel Bracken to score.

Bracken was pressed into action early after Curt Restko was hit in the face by a full-count pitch while leading off the game. Restko suffered a bloody nose and some facial fractures but was not seriously injured.

Eastern starting pitcher Mike Martin (0-4) did not give up a hit until the third inning, but the Tigers' bats came alive in that frame. After a leadoff walk, Mizzou recorded three consecutive hits, including run-scoring doubles from Aaron Senne and Dane Opel. The Tigers sent 10 men to the plate before Matt Miller was able to bring the inning to a close.

Senne later connected for a three-run homer with two outs in Mizzou's five-run seventh inning. Four of the five runs in the frame were unearned.

Despite allowing a pair of inherited runners to score, Miller went on to pitch 2 2/3 scoreless innings, striking out three. He did not issue a walk but uncorked four wild pitches.

Missouri starting pitcher Tyler Clark (1-0) regrouped after giving four hits in the first three innings and went on to work five innings of one-run ball, striking out nine.

Strang extended his career best hitting streak to 11 consecutive games with a two-out single in the third inning. Ben Thoma tried to score on the hit to left but was thrown out at home plate to end the inning. Mizzou catcher Ryan Ampleman blocked the plate nicely, helping left fielder Ryan Gebhart record an outfield assist.

Thoma finished the night with a career-high four hits, recording three singles and a double. Richie Derbak singled in his first at-bat, registering his 200th career hit. He became the 10th member of EIU's 200-hit club.

Matt Kucharski continued his inspired play since becoming a part of the starting lineup last week. The center fielder hit the ball hard three times, singling in the fourth inning, and made a pair of nice diving catches. With one out in the eighth, he laid out in left center and made a crowd-pleasing diving catch to rob Blake Brown of extra bases.  Kucharski also made a nice diving catch on a short pop up into no man's land behind second base in the fifth inning.

Zach Borenstein went 0-for-5 and saw his streak of reaching base safely end at 29 consecutive games.

Working out the EIU bullpen, Tom Kimbro pitched a scoreless sixth inning and Mike Recchia pitched a 1-2-3 eighth with the help of Kucharski.

The Panthers return to action Wednesday when they host Southern Illinois at 3 p.m.