April 15, 2015 Box Score
LAWRENCE, Kan. - Led by Sam Perez's 6 2/3 innings of shutdown relief, Missouri State stretched its win streak against Kansas to eight games with a 3-0, two-hit victory Wednesday evening at Hoglund Ballpark. Perez and starter Andy Cheray combined to hold the Jayhawks hitless for 7 2/3 innings, extending a streak of consecutive scoreless innings by MSU pitching to 20 in a row over the Bears' last three contests.
Perez (4-1), who struck out four and limited KU to a pair of two-out singles in the final two innings, retired 16 of the first 17 batters he faced after taking over for Cheray with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the third. The combined two-hitter marked the second of the season for the Bears--and for Cheray, who tossed 7.0 innings of MSU's 12-0 two-hitter against Washington State on Feb. 15.
Missouri State (25-8), which won its fifth straight game overall, produced the only offense of the night courtesy of a two-out rally in the second that was highlighted by Justin Paulsen's bases-loaded single that scored all three runners. The sophomore first baseman finished his night a perfect 2-for-2 with two walks, while Aaron Meyer added two hits and scored a run to lead the Bears' attack.
The Bears seized the early lead with a burst that saw six consecutive batters reach base after KU starter Sean Rackoski (1-3) quickly dispatched the first five MSU hitters of the game. Spencer Johnson got the Bears' offense going by coaxing a free pass before Meyer laid down the first of two bunt singles in the inning, and Jake Burger beat out a chopper to third to load the bases. Paulsen then lined a 2-2 pitch up the middle to drive home all three baserunners, including Burger, who never slowed and scored all the way from first.
KU (15-22) mounted a pair of early threats of its own against Cheray, but the junior left-hander pitched his way out of trouble in the first, then got a lift from his bullpen in the third to keep it a 3-0 game. The Jayhawks would put at least one runner in scoring position in each of the first three frames, including the third when Cheray issued three walks to load the bases before being lifted for Perez with one out. The Bears right-hander delivered, striking out Blair Beck for the second out and retiring Dakota Smith on a line drive at second baseman Dylan Becker to preserve the MSU lead.
Perez would set down the first seven KU hitters he faced altogether before a two-out walk to Matt McLaughlin in the fifth snapped the string . He would respond by retiring nine Jayhawks in a row until Michael Tinsley lined a two-out single to center to break up the Bears' no-hit bid. Steve Goldstein added another two-out hit in the ninth, but Perez got Tommy Mirabelli to chase a third strike to end the game and notch the Bears' sixth-straight victory at Hoglund Ballpark.
The Kansas bullpen would provide a bright spot for the home club by turning in a strong joint effort to keep the Bears close. Five relievers combined to hold MSU to just one hit--a Paulsen single that led off the seventh--over the final six innings.
The Bears return to Hammons Field Friday (April 17) for a 6:35 p.m. contest with UT Martin that kicks off a three-game non-conference series.
