Aaron Meade struck out a career-high 12 batters in seven innings, but allowed two solo homers to Brett Eibner as No. 4 Arkansas defeated the Missouri State baseball team by a 2-0 final at Hammons Field.
Meade (4-2) allowed a walk and five hits and Brant Combs fanned three more to make 15 strikeouts for MSU pitchers in the game, but the offense mustered only three hits, with just one of those coming before the ninth inning.
Also the starting pitcher, Eibner (3-2) no-hit the Bears through the first three innings and then put the Razorbacks on the board with a solo home run to lead off the fourth. He tossed a hitless fourth before reaching his pitch count and handing the 1-0 lead to the bullpen. Eibner stayed in the game at designated hitter and bombed a second home run to open the sixth that made UA’s lead 2-0.
The Bears dropped to 13-12 and will return to Missouri Valley Conference play this weekend with a trip to Southern Illinois. Game one of that series is scheduled for 3 p.m. Friday.