Missouri State baseball faces elimination after bullpen collapses vs. UIC at MVC Tournament

EVANSVILLE, Ind. — As has been a problem all season long, Missouri State's bullpen collapsed in the late innings and the Bears came out on the losing end.

This time, it came in the first round of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament and the Bears are now on the brink of elimination and longtime head coach Keith Guttin is a loss away from retirement.

Missouri State couldn't hang on in a 9-8 loss to Illinois Chicago (34-18, 16-11) on Tuesday evening at Charles H. Braun Stadium in Evansville, Indiana.

The Bears (23-33, 11-16) will play in Wednesday's 12:30 p.m. elimination game. They will play the loser of Tuesday night's matchup between Southern Illinois and Belmont.

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Missouri State baseball used a big third inning to take control

Trailing 2-0 after allowing a two-run homer in the bottom of the first, the Bears responded with a six-run third to take control of the game.

Cody Kelly started the scoring with a two-run homer to tie it. The Flames later walked the bases loaded along with a run to break the tie. Logan Chambers grounded into a fielder's choice, leading to another run before Dylan Leach scored on a wild pitch to make it 6-2.

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Nick Rodriguez played like a First Team All-MVC second baseman

Fresh off being named one of the Bears' three first-teamers, Rodriguez played the part by going 3 for 5 with two runs scored, an RBI and a homer. His solo shot came in the top of the seventh to put the Bears up by three after the Flames chipped away with runs in the bottom of the third and sixth.

Brandt Thompson ate some innings for Missouri State

Missouri State needed its ace to eat some innings and he did it. Despite giving up a pair of homers, Thompson got through seven innings while allowing four earned runs on five hits. He finished with 101 pitches and kept the Bears in front when the offense provided run support.

Missouri State baseball's bullpen fell apart in the eighth

After Thompson was lifted, the game went sideways in a hurry.

Eric Loomis, the first out of the bullpen, hit two batters, walked one and allowed a hit. The second batter he hit allowed a run to cross. After he was lifted for Tyler Charlton, UIC's Jack Snyder sent the first pitch he saw over the fence to give the Flames a 9-7 lead.

Caden Bogenpohl homers in the ninth but Bears couldn't make up the difference

Missouri State's freshman star broke the school's freshman home run record but it was only a solo shot that cut the Flames' lead in half. With one out, the next two batters went down in order, sending MSU to an elimination game.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Missouri State baseball falls to UIC at MVC Tournament