The Missouri State baseball team fell behind 4-0 after three innings, battled back to tie the game only to give up the winning run in the bottom of the sixth in a 5-4 loss to Minnesota Sunday afternoon inside the Metrodome.

The Bears fell to 5-7 overall with the setback, while the Golden Gophers improved to 8-3.

Minnesota got on the board first with three runs in the second. Kyle Baran legged out an infield single, advanced to third on another single and scored on a sacrifice fly by Derek McCallum. Designated hitter Jeff DeSmidt then knocked a two-run homer to left field.

The Gophers manufactured another run in the third. Matt Nohelty led off the inning with a single, stole second and advanced home on consecutive fly outs to right field for a 4-0 lead.

Missouri State cut the lead in half in the top of the fourth. Clay Coulter led off the inning with a double and scored on Matt Lawson’s two-out RBI single. Lawson then stole second to set up the RBI opportunity for Ryan Mantle, who came through with a single to left.

The Bears pulled the score to 4-3 in the fifth after Ben Woodbury singled, stole second, advanced to third on an error and scored on Nolan Keane’s sacrifice fly.

Ben Carlson evened the score on the first pitch of the sixth, blasting a line drive off reliever Tyler Oakes over the famous "baggy" in right field.

Minnesota regained the lead in the home half of the sixth, stringing together three consecutive singles with the heart of the order to take a 5-4 advantage before the Bears turned their third double play of the game to end the frame.

Jake Shafer threw seven innings for the Bears and gave up all five runs, dropping his record to 0-3.

The Bears open a four-game homestand Tuesday with Arkansas-Little Rock. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.