SPRINGFIELD – Jax Ryan led off the game with a home run and five more Bears went yard after that for an explosive 12-5 series-opening victory against Memphis at Hammons Field.
 
Missouri State improved to 8-5 overall and 5-0 at home with its highest home run total since April 6 of last season.
 
Ryan's home run and a Taeg Gollert sacrifice fly made it 2-0 Bears after an inning, Memphis (3-10) tied the score in the third, and it was all Bears after that as Curry Sutherland launched his fifth round-tripper of the season in the bottom of the third for a 4-2 lead.
 
Mo State scored on a Max Knight RBI single and wild pitch in the fourth to make it 6-2, and the next inning Bobby Atkinson launched a two-run homer and Knight hit a solo shot for 9-2.
 
Charlie Carter and Gollert slugged solo shots in the sixth and seventh, respectively, while Knight added a sacrifice fly in the seventh to cap a three-RBI day.
 
The Tigers scored single tallies in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings to round out the scoring.
 
Michael Yusypchuk (2-1) went five innings in the start for the winning decision, yielding three runs and striking out three batters while tossing 15 consecutive strikes at one point.
 
Charlie Spoonhour and Sam Maclaughlin each allowed a run in their relief appearances, and freshman Adyn Schell finished with 1.1 innings of scoreless relief.
 
Atkinson collected three hits and scored three times, while Knight and Carter had two-hit days.
 
Game two of the series is set for 2 p.m. Saturday. Tickets to all home games are available here.