Bears Power Past Redbirds in Series Opener

Friday, March 31

Normal, Ill.

12 p.m.

Missouri State University

12-12, 0

Illinois State

8-12, 0

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Missouri State	0	0	3	1	0	0	4	0	0	0	8	12	1
Illinois State	0	0	0	4	0	0	0	0	2	X	6	9	1

Bears Power Past Redbirds in Series Opener

March 31, 2023 | Baseball

Box Score

By: MSU Athletics Communications

NORMAL, Ill. – Missouri State slugged three home runs and sat down the Illinois State offense in order six times Friday afternoon on the way to an 8-6 victory in the Missouri Valley Conference series opener at Duffy Bass Field.

Missouri State (12-12, 1-3 MVC) got hits from eight of its nine starters with five going for extra bases, and struck out just five times on a day that the Redbirds (8-12, 1-3) got six innings from starter and MVC strikeout leader Derek Salata.

The first five Bears reached safely in a three-run third inning, with Spencer Nivens getting the scoring started with a two-run single and the third run coming home on a double play. Cody Kelly then led off the fourth inning with his fifth homer of the year to make it 4-0.

After MSU's Brandt Thompson cruised through three innings on 32 pitches without allowing a baserunner, ISU began its half of the fourth with a single that opened the floodgates for four runs to cross the plate and tie the score.

The score remained 4-4 until the seventh when the Bears added four more runs on three consecutive two-out extra-base hits, the first Zack Stewart's MVC-leading 12th double of the year, then back-to-back home runs from Mason Hull and Dylan Robertson for an 8-4 advantage.

ISU made it interesting with two doubles and a single to begin the ninth inning, and a timely double play turned by the Bears stopped the rally at 8-6.

Thompson went 5.2 innings in the start, Trey Ziegenbein (1-2) retired all seven batters he faced to earn the win in his 87th career appearance, tying for second in school history. Scott Youngbrandt threw the ninth.

The series continues at 3 p.m. Saturday.

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