MONROE, La.- Missouri State jumped out to a 5-0 lead at ULM Sunday before the Warhawks scored 10 runs in the middle innings to salvage the series finale from the Bears at Lou St. Amant Field by a 10-8 final.
The Bears fell to 2-1 on the season in the 3-hour, 40-minute contest that included a combined 17 walks, 14 pitchers and 23 left on base between the two squads.
Missouri State loaded the bases with none out in the first inning and then scored four runs with two down on walks by Nick Rodriguez and Dylan Leach and a two-run single by Jahlani Rogers.
Leadoff man Tyler Epstein walked and stole two bases before scoring on a Zack Stewart single to make it 5-0 Bears in the second inning, and the Warhawks (1-2) got on the board with a pair of solo homers in the third.
ULM strung together five consecutive two-out hits in the fourth inning to plate four runs and lead 6-5, and the Bears loaded the bases with nobody out once again in the top of the fifth, regaining the advantage at 7-6 thanks to RBI fielder’s choices from Epstein and Logan Chambers.
The Warhawks hit another solo homer in the bottom of the fifth for a 7-7 tie, then quieted the MSU bats to the tune of one runner over the next three innings.
The home team landed the decisive blow in a strange sixth inning by scoring three runs without a hit thanks to two walks, two hit batters and an error for a 10-7 lead.
The Bears had one last rally in the ninth, loading the bases with two out and scoring on a wild pitch that brought the tying run to second base when the game ended.
Missouri State heads to 2023 College World Series qualifier Oral Roberts on Tuesday for a 3 p.m. game in Tulsa.
