Feb. 28, 2015 Box Score
NATCHITOCHES, La. - Missouri State rode a career performance by Blake Graham and a complete-game mound effort from Matt Hall to pull away for a 10-1 victory over UCA Saturday afternoon at Brown-Stroud Field. Graham came within a double of hitting for the cycle, while Hall struck out five and allowed just four hits and a single unearned run to earn his third win in as many starts this season.
After falling behind 1-0 in the top of the third inning, the Bears took advantage of a two-out error to score four unearned runs in the home half of the frame, then broke the game open with a second four-run rally in the seventh. Hall (3-0) faced little resistance after MSU took control of the contest, yielding just four singles on the afternoon and allowing only one baserunner to advance into scoring position after the third inning.
Graham finished the day with hits in his final four trips to the plate, notching career highs with four hits, four runs scored and three RBIs. The sophomore outfielder drove in two runs with a clutch two-out triple in the Bears' four-run third inning, then homered in the fifth to hand MSU a four-run cushion. He added singles in his final two turns at bat, scoring in both the seventh and eighth innings.
After capitalizing on a two-out UCA error to plate three crucial runs in Friday's series-opening 6-4 victory, MSU cashed in on another miscue to erase its early deficit in game two. Dylan Becker sparked the third-inning scoring chance with a one-out triple to right-center, but UCA starter Andrew Kemmerer nearly thwarted the rally before it even started. The next hitter, Joey Hawkins, lined a one-hopper back to the mound for what should have been the second out, freezing Becker at third.
But Kemmerer's throw to first was wild, allowing Becker to score the tying run and the MSU offense another chance to strike. With two out, Eduardo Castro drew a walk to bring up Graham, who lined a triple to right that chased home two baserunners to put the Bears in front for good. Justin Paulsen delivered the second of his three hits on the afternoon, ripping a run-scoring single to center for a 4-1 MSU advantage.
Graham jolted Kemmerer (0-1) again in the fifth, blasting the right-hander's first pitch of the inning over the right-field wall for his second career homer.
With Hall in command holding a 5-1 lead, the Bears scored four times on four hits and a walk in the seventh to eliminate any doubt about the outcome. Graham singled to lead off the inning, and Spencer Johnson coaxed a walk to set up Aaron Meyer's RBI single to left. Jake Burger added his second hit of the day to load the bases, before Becker's fielder's choice bouncer to second brought in Johnson. Hawkins came through with the capper, driving a double to left that pushed two more runs across the plate for an eight-run Bears' lead.
MSU (6-2) would tack on a fifth unearned run the following inning, as Graham singled and scored again on a two-out error.
Hall wouldn't need the added support, as the Lee's Summit, Mo., product retired the final five batters in succession to wrap up his second complete game as a Bear.
In addition to big days at the plate from Graham (4-for-5) and Paulsen (3-for-4), Burger added two hits in five trips to the plate and Becker chipped in by going 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Additionally, Hawkins turned in his second consecutive two-hit game against UCA (3-3).
MSU will shoot for a sweep of the three-game series Sunday, when the two clubs square off in another 11 a.m. contest.
