Missouri’s four-game winning streak was put to an end Tuesday evening at GCS Ballpark as the Tigers fell 6–4 to Illinois. The Fighting Illini (22–19, 7–8 Big Ten) have won three of the last four “Braggin’ Rights” games and have leveled the all-time series between the schools at 13 games apiece.

Mizzou (24–22, 7–14 SEC) grabbed an early lead courtesy of a solo home run from their red-hot shortstop Ryan Howard, who is batting .524 over his last 21 at-bats. The lead grew to a pair of runs in the fourth when Howard crossed the plate on an error. However, Illinois battled back with a big bottom half of the inning. The Illini put up four runs, including a solo shot and a two-run homer, to pull ahead.

In the fifth, Illinois senior catcher Jason Goldstein faced Mizzou redshirt freshman Liam Carter and drilled a single up the middle to bring home another run, which ended up being the winning run for the Illini. Goldstein and Carter were teammates at Highland Park High School in Illinois.

But Mizzou did not go quietly. Senior first baseman Zach Lavy plated a pair of runs in the eighth inning to bring the Tigers back within one. It was his nation-leading eighth triple of the season.

Despite the late rally from the Tigers, Illinois was able to hold on after adding an insurance run in the bottom of the frame. Senior right-hander Nick Blackburn worked a 1-2-3 ninth inning to collect his 10th save of the season for the Illini.

The Tigers will hit the road for a critical three-game series against No. 4 Mississippi State (30–14–1), beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday. With their SEC Tournament hopes in doubt, Mizzou must avoid a sweep. All three games against the Bulldogs will be broadcast across the ESPN networks.