Missouri State University

Missouri State’s Ross Detwiler struck out a career-high 14 hitters in eight innings of work but the Bears saw another late lead evaporate on Indiana State’s Chris Schmidt’s game-winning single in the ninth in a 4-3 Missouri Valley Conference loss Friday afternoon at Hammons Field.

Detwiler struck out a batter in all eight innings he pitched and took a 3-0 lead into the eighth before ISU’s Nick Ciolli knocked a two-run homer with two outs in the southpaw’s final inning.

The MSU ace pitched the seventh-highest single-game strikeout total in MSU history and moved from seventh to fourth on the career list after increasing his total to 233.

Austin Todd (2-6) came in to close the ninth for Missouri State leading 3-2, but Indiana State loaded the bases with one out before Schmidt delivered the game winning single to center.

Ben Woodbury singled and Nolan Keane walked in the ninth but pinch-hitter Chris Playter grounded into the game-ending double play to end the MSU rally.

Missouri State scored first after putting runners on second and third with no outs in the second. Tanner Mattson led off with a single and Curt Courtwright reached safely on a sacrifice bunt attempt that resulted in a high throw to first by the catcher. Both men then advanced to third on a wild pitch before Chris Taylor grounded out to plate Mattson for a 1-0 Bears lead.

Woodbury gave the Bears a little breathing room in the seventh, coming through with a clutch two-out single to bring Mattson around from second. Woodbury took second on the throw home and scored on Taylor’s RBI double to left-center that extended Missouri State’s lead to 3-0.

With the loss, MSU falls to 20-29 on the season and 5-14 in the league. The Sycamores moved to 24-23 and into a tie in the league standings with the Bears.

Game two of the series is Saturday at 12 p.m.