SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- The Indiana State baseball team dropped its Missouri Valley Conference opener to Missouri State Friday evening at Hammons Field, 6-5, after the Bears drove in the game-winning run in the 11th. With the loss, Indiana State falls to 20-3 overall and 0-1 in The Valley while the Bears snapped a seven-game losing streak to move to 6-18 and 1-0 in conference action.
 
After four base hits, a walk and a hit-by-pitch, the Sycamores jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the third inning of action. CJ Huntley knocked a one-out triple to left-center and would cross the plate two batters later when Jake Means singled to third on a sacrifice bunt attempt. With the bases loaded, Romero Harris singled to left to move the Trees station-to-station before Jarrod Watkins hit a two-RBI single through the left side to make it 4-0.
 
Missouri State answered back in the bottom of the third with three runs of their own -- all of which were unearned. John Privitera reach on a throwing error with one out in the frame before Logan Geha was hit-by-pitch and Drew Millas walked to load the bases. Ben Whetstone lined a two-out single up the middle that would plate two Bears and a run would score on a passed ball to make it a one run game.
 
Missouri State tied the game in the fifth when Privitera came all the way around following a leadoff single to score on a single just over the outstretched arms of Joe Boyle in no-man's land behind first base.
 
Taking advantage of a throwing error on a bunt attempt, Indiana State regained the lead in the sixth inning when Watkins scored from second on an errant throw over first base, but MSU answered the call once again in the bottom of the frame when Dakota Kotowski sent a ball out of the park to left field for his third home run of the season.
 
The Sycamores were able to work out of a jam in what was a long seventh inning as a lightning delay took place with two outs in the frame. The Bears opened the inning with Geha singling up the middle and stealing second. That was when Millas lined a ball directly at Clay Dungan who then dove at second to record the double play. MSU then singled to third and ISU went to the bullpen for Max Klein. While taking his warmup tosses, the game was halted due to lightning.
 
Following a 45-minute delay, Whetstone worked a six-pitch walk before the Sycamores went to the bullpen once again for lefty Tyler Grauer. Grauer threw one pitch and induced a ground ball to end the inning.
 
Indiana State looked to have its best chance to score the go-ahead run in the ninth when Jake Means singled to right to lead off the inning and eventually moved to third on a stolen base and an error. Third base was as far as the senior would go as two strikeouts and a pop up in the infield would end the inning.
Jack Duffy led off the Missouri State 11th with a double to the gap in left and two batters later, he would come across the plate to win the game when Millas doubled to left-center.
 
Triston Polley went six innings in the no-decision, allowing just two earned runs on six base hits. Polley struck out four and walked one in the outing. Grauer was charged with the loss after going three and two-third innings, falling to 1-2 on the year. The southpaw struck out four batters and allowed four base hits.
 
Connor Sechler was credited with the win after pitching three and two-third innings. He moves to 2-2 on the year.  
 
Means led the team with three base hits while Dungan, Harris and Watkins finished with a pair of hits.
 
The Sycamores will look to even the series Saturday. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. ET from Hammons Field.
 
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