Conference USA Series Finale Set for Sunday in Dallas

DALLAS (Interstat) — The Missouri State Bears and Dallas Baptist Patriots will meet Sunday afternoon to decide their three-game Conference USA series, with first pitch scheduled for 2:05 p.m. at Ellis Davis Field House.

The series is tied after a split of the first two games. Dallas Baptist (15-12) took Friday’s opener 5-4 before Missouri State (17-8) evened it with an 8-2 victory on Saturday.

Sunday’s forecast calls for cloudy skies and a temperature near 56 degrees at game time.

A key matchup will feature two pitchers familiar with the opposing lineup. Missouri State is expected to start right-hander Owen Slater, who earned the win in relief Saturday with four scoreless innings, allowing just two earned runs. Over his last four appearances, Slater is 2-1 with a 5.06 ERA, striking out 19 in 17.2 innings.

Dallas Baptist is projected to counter with right-hander Jared Schaeffer, who took the loss Saturday after surrendering two earned runs over 4.2 innings. In his last four outings, Schaeffer is 1-3 with a 6.19 ERA.

The Bears’ bullpen was dominant in Saturday’s win, with Brock Lucas and Tyler Charlton combining for 3.2 perfect innings of relief and five strikeouts.

Missouri State has won seven of its last ten games. Dallas Baptist has dropped four of its last six.

According to Interstat’s game simulator, the projected final score is Missouri State 8, Dallas Baptist 6.

Following Sunday’s contest, Missouri State will host Arkansas on Tuesday. Dallas Baptist will remain home to face Oklahoma State on Tuesday.