COLUMBIA, Mo. (Interstat) — Missouri used a three-run first inning and a steady bullpen effort to defeat Vanderbilt 4-1 on Sunday afternoon at Taylor Stadium, snapping a seven-game losing streak and avoiding a series sweep.

The Tigers improved to 22-26 overall, while the Commodores fell to 28-23.

Vanderbilt struck first in the top of the first without a hit. Waite was hit by a pitch, stole second and advanced to third when Mancini reached on a fielding error by second baseman Maisonet. Waite scored on the error to give Vanderbilt a 1-0 lead.

Missouri answered immediately in the bottom half. Woita walked, and Durnin singled to shallow left. Ward singled to load the bases, and Serna singled to shallow right, driving in Woita and Durnin. Jordan followed with a groundout to shortstop that scored Ward, making it 3-1.

The Commodores managed only four hits in the game, three of them singles. Rigdon singled in the second and stole second but was left stranded. Holcomb singled in the first, and Mancini singled in the seventh. Missouri’s six hits included three from shortstop Durnin, who went 3 for 3 with a walk and a triple.

Vanderbilt had scoring chances in the fourth inning when Goodin and Rigdon walked, and Johnston was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out, but Reynolds struck out and Waite grounded into a double play.

Missouri’s bullpen held Vanderbilt scoreless over the final 5 2/3 innings. Gonzalez started and gave up one run on three hits with three strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings. Salas followed with 1 2/3 hitless innings and a strikeout. Villarreal struck out one in 2/3 of an inning. Skidmore allowed one hit in a scoreless inning. Lohse struck out two in 1 1/3 hitless innings, and Rosand closed with a perfect ninth.

Vanderbilt starter Faulkner entered in the second inning and pitched 5 2/3 hitless innings, striking out none but walking two and allowing no runs. He was replaced by Shorey in the seventh.

Missouri added an insurance run in the eighth. Durnin tripled to deep center field and scored on a sacrifice fly to right by Ward, extending the lead to 4-1.

The Commodores’ bullpen could not contain Missouri’s lineup after the early outburst. Vanderbilt left six runners on base and struck out nine times.

The Tigers have struggled offensively recently, but their three-run first inning provided enough support for a pitching staff that entered the game with a 5.42 team ERA. Durnin’s three-hit performance lifted his average above .300 for the season.

Vanderbilt, which had won three of its previous four games, managed only one extra-base hit in the contest. The Commodores were unable to capitalize on Faulkner’s strong relief outing.

Missouri’s defense turned two double plays to thwart Vanderbilt rallies. The Tigers also stole no bases but executed when needed.

Next up, Missouri travels to Texas for a three-game series starting Thursday. Vanderbilt returns home to host South Carolina for a three-game set beginning Thursday.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Vanderbilt 5, Missouri 1, and Interstatl’s ELO system gave Vanderbilt a 75.30 percent probability to win.