JONESBORO, Ark. – Four Missouri State hurlers combined on a five-hit, 13-0 shutout of Arkansas State, after the Bears used an eight-run fourth inning to break the contest wide open Wednesday evening at Tomlinson Stadium. The victory extended the Bears' win streak to five games, as well as their fourth in a row versus the Red Wolves (6-4).

Austin Knight (1-0) struck out a career-best six hitters while allowing just four singles and a pair of walks over his 5.0 innings, and the Bears bullpen continued its dominant string of early-season performances to close out MSU's second-consecutive shutout. Nate Witherspoon fanned four ASU hitters in 2.0 perfect frames, before Tyler McAlister and Jake Lochner added scoreless innings to run the Bears' streak to 21-straight scoreless innings over the last three games.

Justin Paulsen powered the Missouri State offense with a 3-for-4 night, as the senior first baseman drove home three runs and scored two more. All nine MSU position starters either drove in a run or scored one of their own in helping the Bears earn their seventh win in eight games to start the season.

Despite totaling just seven hits in the game, the Bears (7-1) took advantage of 12 walks and four hit batsmen to build a 12-run lead by the fifth inning. After a scoreless first, the Bears jumped on top of ASU with a single tally on Aaron Meyer's sacrifice fly to center in the second, before Jake Burger lined a two-run double to left in the third to put Missouri State in front, 3-0. MSU was able to take advantage of three early walks by ASU starter Zachary Patterson, using free passes to start both rallies.

The key stretch in the contest occurred with two out and just one on in the fourth, when Patterson beaned back-to-back hitters to load the bases, setting of a string of nine-straight MSU hitters reaching safely. Hunter Steinmetz and Alex Jefferson drew bases-loaded walks to push home the fourth and fifth runs of the game, before Jake Burger's hot shot to short caromed off Grant Hawkins' glove to bring in a sixth MSU run.

A fourth free pass in the inning to Jeremy Eierman plated Steinmetz, before Paulsen's base hit produced two more runs for a 9-0 Bears lead. Singles by Drew Millas and Meyer chased home runs as well, capping the rally with MSU on top by an 11-0 score after 14 Bears batted in the inning.

Steinmetz, who finished 1-for-3 with an RBI, three walks and three runs scored, started the fifth with a single before scoring on Eierman's fielder's choice grounder to short. Combined with Jefferson in the two-hole, the Bears' top two hitters in the lineup combined to reach base five times and score four runs in the first five innings.

Eierman, who walked three times and scored three times, drew his third free pass with two out in the seventh, and Paulsen made the Red Wolves pay with a double to right-center to plate the Bears' ninth two-out tally of the game to complete the scoring.

From there, Witherspoon stifled the Arkansas State offense by retiring all six hitters he faced, and McAlister struck out a pair in a scoreless eighth inning. Lochner issued a two-out walk, but induced a fly ball to left to seal the Bears' third shutout in just eight games this season.

With 13 total punchouts Wednesday, the MSU pitching staff logged its fifth-consecutive double-digit strikeout performance. For the season, the Bears have fanned 79 hitters and allowed only 43 hits and 17 walks in 73.0 combined innings.

Up next, the Bears return to Hammons Field to open the 2017 home slate Friday (March 3) with the first contest of a three-game series with Central Arkansas at 3:05 p.m. Bears' single-game tickets for this weekend's series and all MSU home contests this spring are priced at $5 for the general public, $2.50 for Missouri State faculty and staff, $2 for students and $4 per adult ($2 for children) for groups of 20 or more for the upcoming season. All children ages 12 and under will require a $2 ticket for admission. Eight-game mini-plans, which allow fans to the opportunity to customize their own ticket package by selecting seats to eight home games of their choice, will also be available for $32 per person. 

Season-ticket packages are also on sale, with lower-level reserved chairback seats available for $100 to the general public, $50 for Missouri State faculty and staff and $20 for students. Students must show a valid and current BearPass Card along with a student ticket to gain entry to Hammons Field. Missouri State is also offering complimentary season-long admission for up to two children (ages 12 and under) with the purchase of two 2017 season tickets.

For additional season ticket information or to place your order in person, visit the Old Missouri Bank Ticket Window at JQH Arena during normal box office hours, call (417) 836-7678 or (888) 476-7849 (toll-free). Season ticket requests may also be placed online through MissouriStateBears.com, or by calling (417) 836-8899.