COLUMBIA - The Missouri Tigers opened Southeastern Conference baseball play Friday with a 4-1 loss to South Carolina at Taylor Stadium.
South Carolina led 2-0 before Missouri scored its lone run in the fifth on an RBI double by Logan Pearson to score Kendall Keeton.
Keeton finished with three of Missouri's nine hits in the game, while Pearson had two. Dane Opel, Dylan Kelly, Case Munson and Scott Somerfeld had one apiece as Missouri outhit South Carolina 9-7.
The Gamecocks answered with two runs in the top of the sixth to make it 4-1.
Rob Zastrynzny picked seven innings in taking the loss for the Tigers. He allowed four runs (two earned) on seven hits and two walks. He struck out 10.
Jake Walsh worked two scoreless innings of relief for the Tigers.
Missouri (5-8, 0-1) and South Carolina (16-2, 1-0) resume their three-game series at 2 p.m. today.