SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Indiana State baseball split a doubleheader with Missouri State at Hammons Field Sunday afternoon. The Bears took the opener in 12 innings, 1-0, before the Sycamores earned a run-rule victory in game two, 12-0. ISU moved to 21-4 overall and 1-2 in Missouri Valley Conference action while Missouri State moved to 7-19 on the year and 2-1 in MVC play.
                                        
Game One - Missouri State 1, Indiana State 0 (12 Innings)
Missouri State earned its second extra-inning walk-off victory against Indiana State Sunday afternoon in game one of a doubleheader as the Bears worked a bases loaded walk to clinch the series, 1-0.
 
Indiana State pitchers combined to allow just four base hits throughout the game. Missouri State collected a double in the bottom of the first and would not record another base hit until the 11th inning of play.
 
Two of the four MSU hits would come in the final inning as Logan Geha and Jack Duffy recorded back-to-back singles to open the frame -- but with the singles came controversy as the Sycamores looked to record a double play to clear the bases on a sharply hit ground ball to first base in which Dane Tofteland stepped on the bag and then threw to second to record the second out. Immediately after the ball was put into play, the first base umpire signaled a fair ball, but following the play, officials got together an overturned the call to a foul ball.
 
Sixth-year head coach Mitch Hannahs was ejected while pleading for the game officials to review the play, but to no avail.
 
After a stolen base setup runners at the corners with no outs, the Sycamores elected to intentionally walk the bases loaded. Senior right-hander Evan Giles recorded a strikeout to allow ISU to play normal double play depth. Pinch hitter Javier Ramos would go on to work a four-pitch walk to force the winning run home.
 
Indiana State starting pitcher Collin Liberatore set a pair of career highs in his outing with seven and a third innings pitched and eighth strikeouts. The right-hander allowed just five base runners in the no-decision.
 
Lefty Geremy Guerrero (1-1) made several plays on the mound in clutch situation, especially in the eighth when entering from the bullpen with the bases loaded and one out. Guerrero retired Brooks Zimmerman with a strikeout looking before inducing a fly ball to center to get out of the inning unscathed.
 
Indiana State outhit the Bears, 7-4 in the contest, but struggled to get runners home, leaving several runners at second. The Sycamores best chance to plate a run late came in the ninth when Romero Harris reached second on a throwing error but MSU's Connor Sechler retired three-straight Sycamores on strikeouts.
 
Luke Fegen was the lone Sycamore to record multiple hits, finishing 2-for-5.
 
Hayden Juenger (1-2) was credited with the win for the Bears after going one and a third innings. Logan Wiley tossed seven and a third innings, allowing six base hits and striking out six. Sechler was the most important reliever of the day for the Bears, getting three strikeouts in his inning of work in the ninth.
 
Game Two - Indiana State 12, Missouri State 0 (7 Innings)
Indiana State picked up a 12-0 run-rule victory in seven innings in the nightcap to salvage a game in the series.
 
Indiana State jumped out to a 4-0 lead after one inning thanks in part to a two-run RBI single from Romero Harris, a sacrifice fly from Jarrod Watkins and an RBI single from Dane Tofteland. ISU continued to pour on the runs as the game went on, notching six more runs in the third to jump out to a 10-0 lead.
 
Tofteland drew an RBI bases-loaded walk, CJ Huntley singled in a run with a single through the right side, Max Wright drove a run in on a fielder's choice before Jake Means capped off the inning with a two-RBI double off the top of the wall in left.
 
Means added an insurance run in the seventh on a bases-loaded walk before Roby Enriquez reached on a fielder's choice to plate the 12th run of the game.
 
Right-hander Tyler Whitbread was phenomenal on the mound, improving to 5-0 on the year after the seven-inning shutout. The Camlachie, Ontario native set a new career high in strikeouts after fanning 10 Bears in the outing while allowing just four base hits.
 
Tofteland led the Sycamores with two base hits while Means drive in three on a double and two walks.
 
MSU's Ben Cruikshank was charged with the loss after allowing seven runs in two and a third, falling to 0-1 on the season.
 
The Sycamores will be back in action on Wednesday with a trip to Purdue. First pitch from Alexander Field is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET.
 
For the latest information on the Sycamore Baseball team, be sure to visit GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.