HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Missouri State out-hit Southern Miss 6-4 and came up empty on several scoring opportunities Friday in a 2-1 loss to the Golden Eagles at Pete Taylor Park.

The Bears (6-6) stranded eight runners in the contest, including leaving men on second and third in both the first and eighth innings, while three pitchers combined to surrender just four hits to the Conference USA West Division favorites.

The Eagles (10-6) converted a walk into a 1-0 lead with a two-out double in the second, and opened the fourth with a hit batter, walk and RBI single before a strikeout and double play kept the Bears close at a 2-0 deficit.

MSU starter Hayden Minton (0-1) allowed two hits and fanned five in four innings before giving way to Matt Russell, who tossed 3.2 scoreless frames in relief.

Missouri State put runners on the corners in the seventh before pinch-hitter Jaden Rolffs sent a fly ball to the warning track in center for the final out, and finally broke through in the eighth with a two-out rally.

Ben Whetstone got things started with a walk, Cam Cratic singled in his return to the lineup and Drake Baldwin sent a double down the left field line for a 2-1 deficit as part of his 2-for-3 day.

The Bears got a one-out single from Grant Wood in the ninth, but Southern Miss closer Garrett Ramsey struck out the side otherwise for his fifth save. Hunter Stanley (3-1) picked up the win for the home team, firing seven innings with three hits and seven strikeouts.

Game two of the series is set for 2 p.m. Saturday.