SPRINGFIELD – Brant Kragel hit a go-ahead, pinch-hit two-run double in the eighth inning Friday night to help Missouri State rally for a 6-4 Conference USA victory over Middle Tennessee at Hammons Field.
 
Following his third pinch-hit double of the month, Kragel scored on a Bryce Cermenelli single to complete a three-run eighth, and Taeg Gollert's solo home run an inning prior began the Bears' comeback from a 4-2 deficit.
 
The Blue Raiders (12-10, 2-2) grabbed a 3-0 lead in the second after starting the frame with two singles and a double, and Cermenelli countered with a two-run double in the bottom half to make it 3-2.
 
Ross Felder entered the game for Mo State (13-7, 3-1) on the mound in the third and fired a career-high 5.1 innings, allowed just a solo home run in the fifth to keep the Bears within striking distance.
 
After Felder exited with one out in the eighth, Max Knight (2-0) came in and retired all five MTSU batters he faced with three strikeouts, completing Missouri State's first game without issuing a walk since April 11, 2024.
 
In addition to his home run, Gollert added a double in the first inning and now has 99 career extra-base hits, good for seventh in school history. Cermenelli's three RBIs were a season high as the Bears improved to 8-0 at home in 2026.
 
The series continues at 2 p.m. Saturday. Tickets to all home games are available here.