CONWAY, Ark. – Dylan Leach broke a 2-2 tie with a two-run homer in the eighth inning, and pitchers Brandt Thompson and Eric Loomis combined to throw a four-hitter with 10 strikeouts and two walks Saturday to lead Missouri State to a 4-2 series-opening victory at Central Arkansas.
 
Missouri State (7-5) took a 2-0 lead on consecutive two-out RBI doubles from Logan Chambers and Leach in the top of the third, and UCA (7-8) scored on three straight one-out hits in the bottom half and a solo homer in the fourth to make it 2-2.
 
The pitchers took over from there, with Thompson and Central Arkansas starter Jesse Barker each retiring the final nine batters they faced, as Zack Stewart was the only batter for either side to reach in innings 5-7 thanks to a leadoff double in the fifth.
 
Leach broke through with this third long ball of the season in the eighth for the 4-2 lead, while Eric Loomis (1-1) fired three hitless innings to close it out and earn the victory, facing the minimum nine batters thanks to a double play turned behind him and combining with Thompson to face the minimum 18 UCA hitters the final two times through the lineup.
 
Thompson fanned seven against one walk and four hits, surpassing both 100 innings and 100 strikeouts in his MSU career during the start. The Bears are now 5-0 this season in his starts.
 
Leach finished 3-for-4 with three RBI, while Caden Bogenpohl, Chambers and Nick Rodriguez each logging two-hit days. Rodriguez also extended his hit streak to 12 games.
 
The teams finish the series with a 12 p.m. doubleheader on Sunday.