SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State's Cam Cratic was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning Thursday to drive home Drake Baldwin and give the Bears a 5-4 victory over Bradley in the Missouri Valley Conference opener for both teams at Hammons Field.

The Bears (9-8, 1-0) allowed just one hit after the fourth inning to allow the offense to overcome a 4-2 deficit, beginning with solo homers from Ben Whetstone and Jaden Rolffs in the fifth to even the count at 4-4.

It became a pitcher's duel from that point to the ninth, with MSU starter Logan Wiley finishing a solid 6.1-inning effort and handing off to Peyton Carson to get the final two outs of the seventh before Trey Ziegenbein (3-0) fanned three in the final two innings for the win.

Bradley (6-10, 0-1) reliever Taylor Catton did not allow a hit in 3.1 innings but still took the loss, walking Baldwin to begin the ninth and hitting Jack Duffy before giving way to Grant Jausel, who intentionally walked Whetstone after a wild pitch to load the bases, then grazed Cratic's helmet to give the Bears the walk-off win.

Missouri State loaded the bases with no outs to begin the game, taking a 2-0 lead in the first when Duffy scored on a double play and Dakota Kotowski hit an RBI single as part of his 2-for-4 day.

The Braves scored a run on a wild pitch in the third and added three in the fourth, the big blow on a two-run homer by Jackson Chatterton for a 4-2 advantage.

Duffy, Whetstone and Grant Wood had two hits each as part of MSU's 11-hit effort.

The teams are set for a 2 p.m. doubleheader on Friday. Game one is scheduled for seven innings.