O’FALLON, Mo. (Interstat) — The Missouri Tigers capitalized on a critical first-inning error to plate four unearned runs and rode a parade of six effective pitchers to a 5-1 victory over the Illinois Fighting Illini in nonconference baseball action Tuesday night at CarShield Field.

The game’s decisive moment came in the bottom of the first inning. After Illinois starter Plumley and reliever Reed struggled with command, loading the bases on two walks and a single, Missouri’s Ben hit a sharp grounder to first baseman Putty. The ball went through Putty’s legs as a fielding error, allowing two runs to score. Blaize Ward followed immediately with a two-run double to left-center, scoring two more, to stake the Tigers to a 4-0 lead before an out was recorded in the frame.

That early outburst proved insurmountable for the Fighting Illini (12-11), who managed just five hits and left 11 runners on base. Illinois scored its lone run in the sixth without the benefit of a hit. Schupmann doubled, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a passed ball after Johannes struck out.

Missouri (17-8) added an insurance run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by George, scoring Ben, who had doubled and advanced to third on a balk.

The Tigers matched Illinois with five hits but were bolstered by near-flawless work from their bullpen. Starter PJ Green set the tone with three scoreless innings, allowing one hit. Keyler Gonzalez navigated traffic over 2 1/3 innings to earn the win, allowing the only Illinois run. Eli Skidmore, Kadden Drew and Sam Rosand combined for 3 2/3 perfect innings of relief, with Skidmore striking out two.

Illinois reliever Sam Mommer provided a bright spot for the visitors, delivering three perfect innings with three strikeouts after entering in the third. Liam McKillop and Richie LaCien also threw scoreless frames, but the early deficit was too large to overcome.

Missouri’s Ward finished 1-for-3 with the key two-run double. For Illinois, Groves reached base three times with a single and two walks.

The result defied pregame projections from Interstat, whose simulator had forecast a 5-4 Illinois victory and gave the Fighting Illini a 55.7% probability of winning.

Missouri improved to 17-8 and will travel to face Lindenwood (MO) on Wednesday. Illinois falls to 12-11 and opens a Big Ten series at Penn State on Friday.