DALLAS – Missouri State got a pair of 470-plus foot home runs from Max Knight and Curry Sutherland to build an early 5-1 lead at Dallas Baptist Sunday, but the bats went quiet over the final six innings to allow the Patriots to come back for an 8-5 series-clinching victory at Horner Ballpark.
 
Knight's fifth homer of the year was a 472-foot shot that put the Bears (17-9, 6-3 Conference USA) up 3-0 in the second, and Sutherland's ninth round-tripper landed a foot shy of that for a 5-1 advantage in the third.
 
DBU (16-12, 6-3) added a single run in the third to close to 5-2, and hit leadoff home runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings, two by Luke Pettitte, to set the stage for six total runs in those frames for the 8-5 final.
 
Meanwhile, the Mo State offense was limited to one hit over the final six innings, though the Bears did draw five walks and were hit by three pitches, leading to seven runners left on base.
 
Bryce Cermenelli went 2-for-5 to extend his hitting streak to 14 games. Jason Schaaf allowed two runs over four innings in the start, and the Bears employed four additional relievers, with Tyler Charlton (1-2) taking the decision. The staff tallied 11 strikeouts.
 
The Bears are back home Tuesday at 6 p.m. to take on fourth-ranked Arkansas on Marty Parther Night at Hammons Field. Tickets to all home games are available here.