SPRINGFIELD – Zack Stewart belted two home runs and drove in a career-high six, and Missouri State launched six round-trippers as a team to open the weekend series against UIC with a 17-3 run-rule victory at Hammons Field.
 
After spotting the Flames (20-11, 5-5 Missouri Valley Conference) a two-run homer in the first, the Bears scored seven in the second after the bases were empty with two out.
 
Nick Rodriguez started things with a double as part of a 3-for-4 day and scored on a Jahlani Rogers double before Cody Kelly, Caden Bogenpohl and Stewart all hit two-run bombs to make it 7-2.
 
UIC led off the fourth with a solo shot, only to see Dylan Leach and Taeg Gollert answer with a pair of two-out, two run homers for an 11-3 lead.
 
Then in the fifth, Tyler Epstein hit an RBI single, Leach walked with the bases loaded and Stewart followed with Missouri State's first grand slam of the season to give the Bears (15-17, 4-6) their most homers in a game since April of last season.
 
Brandt Thompson (5-0) got the victory with six strong innings, fanning seven and not issuing a walk. Reed Metz pitched a scoreless seventh to close it out.
 
The series continues at 11 a.m. Friday.