SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Missouri State centerfielder Spencer Nivens led off the bottom of the 10th inning with a home run to lead the Bears over SIUE 4-3 in the series finale Sunday at Hammons Field.
Missouri State won two oof three in the series to hand SIUE its first series loss of the year. The Cougars are now 10-4. Missouri State improved to 9-5.
"It was a tough loss today for sure," SIUE Head Coach Sean Lyons said. "You'd like to win two of three, but we were tested here and that will help us in the long run."
Jacob Kampf (2-1) allowed the home run to Nivens to take his first loss of the year. He worked an inning of relief.
SIUE built a 3-0 lead over the first two innings. Drew Mize led off the game with a single up the middle and then scored on a double by Ole Arntson. Mize and Chase Bloomer hit back-to-back RBI-doubles in the second inning to push the Cougars' lead to three.
"I am really pleased with the way we came out of the gates," Lyons said. "We put some good swings over the first three innings.
Missouri State catcher Cody Kelly hit a two-run home run in the fifth to cut the SIUE advantage to 3-2.
Taeg Gollert led off the bottom of the eighth inning with a home run to tie the score 3-3.
Tyler DeLong made his first start with the Cougars and allowed two runs over five innings of work. The only hits he allowed was the home run to Kelly. He struck out six. Garrett Helsel pitched three innings in relief. He allowed the home run to Gollert. He struck out one.
"Tyler was good," Lyons said of his starter. "He competes every time he takes the ball. The four walks were uncharacteristic. Garrett was solid as well. He made a mistake and got hurt."
After allowing the three early runs, Missouri State starter Hayden Minton settled in and worked seven innings. He struck out 10 SIUE hitters.
"(Minton) settled in and found a little bit of a rhythm," Lyons said. "He made it tough for us in the third through the sixth innings."
The Cougars finished with just six hits. Mize (2-5) was the only SIUE player with more than a hit. Missouri State finished with seven hits from seven different players.
The Cougars got a two-out pinch hit from Kyle Ratliff in the ninth. Ratliff stole second base but was stranded on base.
"Up by three runs in the fifth inning you feel like you have a really good opportunity to win that game," Lyons said. "We just weren't able to add on. We had an opportunity there in the ninth and we couldn't take advantage."
SIUE returns home for an eight-game home stand which includes the start of Ohio Valley Conference play. Tuesday the Cougars will play host to Fontbonne at Simmons Complex.
"It will be good to be home for several games and hopefully get things going with the bats," Lyons added.
