CONWAY, Ark. – A pinch-hit grand slam by Tarleton State's Colby Seltzer in the top of the eighth inning Saturday proved to be the difference as Missouri State fell by a 7-5 final to the Texans at Bear Stadium.

The game was scoreless into the sixth inning, thanks in part to the Bears (4-3) throwing out three Tarleton (5-7) runners at the plate, including consecutive assists from Ben Whetstone to end the fourth inning.

The Texans, who are coached by former Missouri State pitcher Aaron Meade, broke through with back-to-back doubles in the sixth for a 1-0 lead, and MSU's Dakota Kotowski countered with a two-run homer in the bottom of the frame.

The Bears added two more in the seventh, when Walker Jenkins was hit by a pitch and Grant Wood walked before a Greg Ziegler sacrifice fly and Jack Duffy RBI single made it a 4-1 advantage.

With the bases empty and two out in the eighth, Tarleton used a combination of three walks and a single to plate its first run before Seltzer's slam put the Texans ahead 6-4.

MSU's Blake Mozley cut the deficit in half with an RBI single in bottom of the eighth on a play where the Texans returned earlier favors by throwing out the tying run, and Mozley ended the frame stranded on second.

Tarleton added a two-out RBI single as insurance for a 7-5 lead in the top of the ninth, and the top of the MSU order was retired in order to end the game.

Missouri State starter Hayden Minton matched a career high with six innings in the no-decision, and Hayden Juenger got the loss after yielding four runs in relief.

Duffy extended his hitting streak to eight games with a 2-for-4 effort and stole a career-high three bases.

Missouri State plays Central Arkansas at 1 p.m. Sunday. MSU took two of three from UCA at Hammons Field Feb. 26-28.