SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State suffered its first loss of the 2021 season Saturday afternoon at Hammons Field, stranding 12 runners on base in a 5-2 setback to Central Arkansas.

Both teams got on the board in the second inning as UCA got a run off two walks and an error in the top half before MSU (3-1) answered when Walker Jenkins doubled home Jaden Rolffs.

Central Arkansas (1-1) added runs in the fifth and sixth innings to increase its lead to 3-1 and put MSU behind for the first time this season, and Missouri State cut the gap to 3-2 in the bottom half of the sixth courtesy of two balks from UCA's Trent Gregson.

Central Arkansas got a two-run homer from Hunter Hicks as insurance in the seventh.

Missouri State had 10 hits in the game and reached safely 15 times but was unable to score after loading the bases in both the first and third innings. Jack Duffy had three hits in five at bats.
 
MSU starter Jared Viertel (0-1) surrendered two runs on three hits while striking out three over 4.1 innings of work in his first career appearance.

UCA's bullpen allowed just a run to Missouri State and struck out 10 in seven combined innings.
 
The series rubber match will take place Sunday at 1 p.m.