This week's Murney Student-Athlete of the Week is Missouri State baseball's Spencer Nivens. Nivens hit .438 with five extra-base hits in Missouri State’s 4-0 week, including the first cycle by a Bear since 1998. Nivens reached safely 10 times, slugged 1.063 and had a .500 on-base percentage. On Friday, Nivens collected the first cycle by a Bear since future big-leaguer Matt Cepicky did it on March 29, 1998, with a first-inning home run against Central Arkansas, a single in the fourth, a two-run triple followed by scoring the tying run in the eighth, and a double in the 13th that set up a game-tying sac fly before MSU eventually won in the 14th frame. He finished 4-for-5 with four RBI and reached safely five times. Tuesday at Oral Roberts, Nivens doubled and homered in the Bears’ win, had a single on Saturday against Central Arkansas, and walked twice on Sunday and scored MSU’s second run of a 2-1 victory.
