SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State conceded consecutive big innings in the middle of the game to visiting Illinois State Sunday afternoon at Hammons Field as the Redbirds won 11-2 to complete the Missouri Valley Conference series sweep.
 
ISU (14-11, 4-2 MVC) hit a pair of two-run homers in a five-run fifth to break open the game at 6-1 and reached with its first four batters the next inning on the way to a four-spot and 10-1 margin.
 
The Redbirds scored a run in the second inning after a leadoff error opened the door for a two-out single, and the Bears (10-15, 1-5) evened the score at 1-1 in the fourth when Caden Bogenpohl tripled and scored on a Zack Stewart single.
 
ISU's Daniel Pacella hit a solo home run in the eighth, his second long ball of the game, and Taeg Gollert collected an RBI single in the bottom half for the final 11-2 margin.
 
Gollert and Stewart had two hits apiece for the Bears, who were held in check by ISU starter Tanner Perry, who scattered four hits in seven innings of work.
 
The Bears used five pitchers in the game, with Curry Sutherland throwing a 1-2-3 seventh inning for the lone scoreless outing of the group.
 
Missouri State continues its five-game home stand with midweek contests against SEMO at 2 p.m. Tuesday and Kansas State at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.