EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Missouri State's Matt Russell threw a shutout in Saturday's opening game at Evansville, and the Bears stranded 11 runners in a 4-2 loss in game two to split the doubleheader with the Purple Aces at Braun Stadium.

Missouri State (14-11, 4-3 Missouri Valley Conference) saw its four-game win streak came to an end in game two, while the Aces moved to 19-14 and 4-6 in league games.

The Bears look to claim a 3-1 series win in Sunday's 1 p.m. finale.

Game One Recap – Missouri State 3, Evansville 0 (7 innings)
Matt Russell threw his first career shutout, scattering four hits and striking out six in a career-high seven innings. It was MSU's first shutout as a team since the 2020 season opener, while Russell is the first pitcher to do so individually since Dylan Coleman in May 2018.

Russell's Evansville counterpart, Caleb Reinhardt, threw a complete game of his own and faced the minimum through 3.2 innings before Ben Whetstone walked and Jaden Rolffs drove him home with a double to break up the no-hitter and give the Bears a 1-0 lead after four frames.

Whetstone singled and scored again in the sixth thanks to a two-run homer from Drake Baldwin, a shot to left-center for the sophomore catcher's third of the season and a 3-0 advantage to cap the scoring.

Russell (2-1) retired the leadoff hitter in every inning and sat down eight of the last nine Purple Aces he faced.

Game Two Recap – Evansville 4, Missouri State 2
Missouri State had 16 batters reach safely – 10 hits and six walks – but hit into three double plays and stranded 11 runners in a frustrating loss.

MSU starter Hayden Minton (0-2) walked the bases loaded in the first and surrendered a three-run double to Tanner Craig, rebounded to retire the next eight Aces until Craig tagged him for a leadoff double in the fourth and scored on a sacrifice fly for a 4-0 Evansville lead.

The Bears threatened in each of the final three innings, beginning by loading the bases with one out in the seventh before a double play wiped out the scoring chance.

Mason Hull tripled and scored on a Blake Mozley single to make it 4-1 in the eighth, and Dakota Kotowski and Cam Cratic hit back-to-back singles to open the ninth and bring the tying run to the plate.

Another double play left Kotowski on third with two out, he scored on a wild pitch to make it 4-2, and Whetstone walked to bring up Rolffs as the tying run. Rolffs then blistered a line drive to left field that UE's Mark Shallenberger hauled in while crashing into the wall to end the game.

Minton yielded just two hits in five innings, but three of his five walks came around to score. Forrest Barnes scattered three hits in his three innings of relief.

Cratic went 3-for-5 at the plate while Hull and Mozley collected two hits each.