KENNESAW, Ga. (Interstat) — Missouri State scored five runs in the first three innings and relied on a three-pitcher bullpen to hold off Kennesaw State 5-3 on Thursday night in a Conference USA game at Fred Stillwell Stadium.

The Bears, who improved to 31-17, sent 10 batters to the plate in the top of the first inning and produced two runs. Bryce Cermenelli singled and Logan Fyffe was hit by a pitch before Curry Sutherland doubled down the left-field line to score Cermenelli. Taeg Gollert grounded out to shortstop to drive in Fyffe. A wild pitch moved Sutherland to third, and walks to Jax Ryan and Carter Bergman loaded the bases, but Max Knight struck out to end the inning.

Missouri State added two more in the third. With one out, Ryan singled to center field. Bergman followed by homering down the left-field line, scoring Ryan and making the lead 4-0.

Kennesaw State got on the board in the bottom of the second. Wesley Alig singled and Jackson Chirello bunted for a single, and after two outs Shamaar McDuffie singled to center field, driving in Alig. The Owls cut the deficit to 4-2 in the third when Trenton Lyons led off with a home run to right-center.

Missouri State answered in the fourth. Gabe Roessler singled and advanced to third on a single by Fyffe. Sutherland lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Roessler to make it 5-2.

The Owls, who fell to 24-25, threatened in the seventh. Chris Cole singled and Cooper Williams singled, sending Cole to third. Tyler Charlton relieved Ross Felder and induced a ground-ball double play from Lyons, but Cole scored to make it 5-3. Charlton then struck out Wesley Alig to end the inning.

Charlton pitched three scoreless innings of relief, allowing no hits and striking out three. He earned the save, while Jason Schaaf started for Missouri State and worked five innings, allowing two runs on zero hits with three strikeouts. Schaaf’s line included two earned runs despite the hitless outing, as walks and a hit batter contributed to the Owls’ early scoring. Ross Felder recorded a strikeout in the sixth but gave up a run in the seventh before Charlton entered.

Carter Bergman finished 1-for-3 with two RBIs and a home run, while Sutherland went 1-for-3 with two RBIs. For Kennesaw State, McDuffie had three hits in four at-bats and drove in one run. Lyons also homered, finishing 1-for-5.

Harry Cain took the loss for the Owls, allowing one run on two hits over four innings with four strikeouts. Nolan Sliver started and gave up four runs on five hits in three innings. Ryan Gold tossed two scoreless innings of relief, striking out two.

Missouri State’s pitching staff limited the Owls to three runs despite Kennesaw State collecting 12 hits. The Bears stranded 10 Owls base runners, with key double plays in the seventh and eighth innings.

The game was the first of a three-game series between the two Conference USA foes. The series continues Friday and concludes Saturday.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Kennesaw State 6, Missouri State 4. Interstatl’s ELO system had projected Missouri State with a 51.70 percent probability to win.