CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas -- Michael Massey and Pat McInerney hit three-run homers Sunday to give Illinois a 6-4 lead but the Illini could not hold on in a 7-6 loss against Missouri. Illinois finished the Kleberg Bank College Classic at Whataburger Field with a 1-2 record.

"I thought we had some quality at-bats and we had some opportunities to score," said Illinois head coach Dan Hartleb. "But there are some things we need to clean up."

Massey hit his homer to the opposite field in the first inning, his first home run as an Illini, before McInerney followed in the second inning to nearly the same spot in left field. Those two swings were all the offense for Illinois, although the Illini totaled 11 hits, the same amount as Missouri.

Illinois (2-5) tried to rally in the ninth when freshman Ben Troike led off with his third single of the game. But Troike was thrown out on the move to second base on a strikeout-caught stealing double play on a 3-2 pitch that McInerney thought was low for ball four.

Eight Illini had hits in the game, including Troike and Bren Spillane (2) with multiple singles.

"We had opportunities, we just need to play a complete game," said Hartleb. "This team is going to be ok. We don't quit as a group."

Missouri (7-1) broke out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first on the way to its seventh straight win. The Tigers had five hits, three of them doubles, off of freshman starter Ty Weber in the first. Weber settled down to go four innings while allowing five runs on nine hits and striking out five before handing the ball to the bullpen.

"I'll take today's pitching performance," said Hartleb. "Obviously we had a few bad innings but the wind was gusting."

Zack Jones (2 IP, 1 ER), Joey Gerber (2 IP, 0 ER) and Cyrillo Watson (1 IP, 0 ER) combined to throw the next five innings and limit Missouri to two runs (one earned) on two hits and nine strikeouts. Jones fanned three and Gerber struck out five of the six batters he faced in a perfect seventh and eighth to keep the Illini in the game.

Four Tigers had multi-hit days, led by leadoff man Connor Brumfield who went 3 for 5. Missouri took the lead in the sixth with runs on a wild pitch and an error on Illini third baseman Trent Hammond.

T.J. Sikkema (1-0) picked up the win. The lefty held Illinois scoreless over the game's final 4 1/3 innings. Missouri starter Liam Carter (2 IP, 6 R) could not get out of the third inning.

Illinois is back to the diamond Friday at Florida Atlantic. That game kicks off a three-game series between the Owls and Illini.

All Tournament
C – David Craan - ILL
1B – Pat McInerney – ILL
2B – Jake Scheinet – HOU
3B – Jared Triolo – HOU
SS – Ben Troike – ILL
OF – Nick Anderson – AMCC
OF – Connor Broomfield – MIZ
OF – Trey Harris – MIZ
DH – Brian Sharp – MIZ
P – Michael Plassmeyer – MIZ
P – TJ Sikkema – MIZ
P – Andy Token – MIZ
P – Seth Romero – HOU
P – John King – HOU
MVP – TJ Sikkema – MIZ