FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Missouri State scored seven runs on the top pitching staff in the country Tuesday evening but couldn't overcome an early 9-0 deficit in a 12-7 loss to No. 2 Arkansas at Baum-Walker Stadium.
 
The Razorbacks (38-7) hit a grand slam in the first inning, got a two-out RBI single in the second and added four more in the third to lead 9-0 before the MSU (18-25) offense got started.
 
MoState sent 10 batters to the plate in a four-run fourth and got on the board with a Nick Rodriguez RBI single that extended the junior's on-base streak to 24 games. Dylan Leach was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to drive in another run, and Arkansas native Logan Chambers hit a two-run single to make it 9-4.
 
Arkansas answered with two in the bottom of the fourth, and Missouri State's Tyler Charlton fired two scoreless innings with three strikeouts and Garrett Ferguson followed with a scoreless seventh to keep the Bears in striking distance.
 
Taeg Gollert launched his eighth home run of the season in the seventh, a three-run bomb that made it 11-7, but Arkansas kept MSU off the board after that and added a solo homer in the eighth for the 12-7 final.
 
Gollert, Zack Stewart and Caden Bogenpohl each scored two runs, as the Bears drew six walks and were hit by three pitches. Brendan Beaver (2-3) started and took the loss on the mound.
 
The teams meet again at 4 p.m. Wednesday.