Missouri State sophomore ace Tim Clubb hurled a complete-game four-hitter against Middle Tennessee and Brayden Drake logged both RBIs to lead the Bears to a 2-0 non-conference victory Friday evening at Hammons Field.

The Blue Raiders, who entered the game ranked ninth nationally in scoring and boasted a .339 team batting average, managed only four singles off Clubb and advanced just one of six baserunners beyond first base while being shut out for the first time this season.

Clubb raised his record to 9-0, becoming the first Bear to win his first nine decisions since 2001.

What had the potential to be a high-scoring affair between two of the country’s top 25 scoring offenses turned into a pitchers’duel between Clubb and Kenneth Roberts and got to the sixth inning in a scoreless tie.

The Bears, in fact, were hitless until Ben Woodbury sent a two-out single through the right side off Roberts in the sixth. Drake followed that with an RBI double to give Missouri State a 1-0 lead.

The Bears added an insurance run in bottom of the eighth. Chris Playter reached on a throwing error and got to third with one out after a sacrifice and a wild pitch. Drake popped up a squeeze bunt attempt that cleared pitcher Michael Adamson after he slipped off the mound and was good enough to score Playter. Adamson would go on to walk the bases loaded before reliever Kevin Whittaker got a strike out to end it with the Bears leading 2-0.

Missouri State improved to 34-14 overall with the victory, while MTSU fell to 26-23-1.

Game two of the series is at 12:30 p.m. Saturday.