LEXINGTON, Ky. (Interstat) — The Missouri Tigers used a four-run fifth inning and stellar relief pitching to defeat the eighth-ranked Kentucky Wildcats 5-2 on Sunday afternoon at Kentucky Proud Park, securing a series split in Southeastern Conference play.

Missouri’s Blaize Ward went 3 for 3 with two RBIs. His second-inning single opened the scoring. The Tigers broke open a one-run game in the fifth, capitalizing on Wildcats miscues to plate four unearned runs.

Kentucky’s Luke Lawrence hit a solo home run in the third. Missouri relievers Juan Villarreal, Sam Rosand and Eli Skidmore combined for nine shutout innings, allowing no hits after the third. Villarreal earned the win with three perfect frames.

The victory improved Missouri to 19-14 overall and 2-4 in the SEC. Kentucky, which entered with a 78.6% win probability per Interstat’s ELO system, fell to 23-8 and 4-2.