SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – SIUE baseball managed just two hits Friday in falling to Missouri State 3-0 in the opener of a three-game series at Hammons Field.

Missouri State pitchers Nick Petree and Zach Merciez held the Cougars to two hits while striking out 13 batters.

"Our hitting wasn't good," SIUE Head Coach Gary Collins said. "Our pitching wasn't bad but there's no doubt we have to do both better."

Missouri State (11-3) scored its first run in the third thanks to a leadoff walk. Spiker Helms walked to start the inning, and then scored on a one-out double by Brent Seifert. Seifert walked with one out in the in the fifth inning, then came in to score thanks to a pair of pair of singles.

Both runs came against SIUE starter Ryan Daniels (1-3). Daniels surrendered seven hits and walked four over five innings. He also struck out four.

The Bears final run came in the eighth inning on two hits against reliever Brian Lorenz. Lorenz pitched three innings, allowed the run on the two hits and struck out two. He did not walk a batter.

The Cougars (7-6) collected both hits in the sixth inning. Travis Becherer bunted his way on to start the inning. Mitch Matecki then reached on an infield single to third. The Cougars stranded both runners.  Becherer finished 1 for 2 with a pair of walks. Matecki was 1 for 4 with a strikeout.

Dylan Becker paced the Bears, going 3 for 4.

SIUE and Missouri State will wrap the series with a double-header Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. The teams were scheduled to play single games both Saturday and Sunday, but forecasted rain has changed the schedule.