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MURRAY, Ky. – Missouri State saw its 13-game conference win streak and nine-game overall streak end in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader at Murray State but rebounded in game two to split the twinbill and claim its sixth consecutive Missouri Valley Conference series victory.
The baseball Bears (29-17, 16-5 MVC) have now won 13 of 15 overall and 14 of 15 in league play, with a series at third-place Southern Illinois on tap next weekend before closing at home with first-place Indiana State.
Missouri State plays its final scheduled non-conference game Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. when it hosts Lindenwood at Hammons Field.
Game 1 Recap – Murray State won, 7-4
Missouri State led 4-0 after two innings but mustered just one hit the rest of the of the game as Murray State scored the final seven runs.
Zack Stewart blasted his 11th home run of the season to make it 2-0 in the first, and Cam Cratic and Anthony Socci reached on a walk and hit by pitch, respectively, and eventually scored on a Nick Rodriguez ground out and wild pitch to make it 4-0 without the aid of a hit in the second frame.
The Racers chipped away with solo home runs in the third and fourth innings, then opened the fifth with a single and double before scoring both for the 4-4 tie.
Meanwhile, Murray reliever Alex Elsing entered with two out in the second and retired the first 11 Bears he faced to allow the Racers’ offense to recover, and a two-out error by Missouri State in the seventh let the home team take its first lead at 5-4.
The Racers added a two-run homer in the eighth for the 7-4 final.
Game 2 Recap – Missouri State won, 8-5
Missouri State rebounded from the game one loss with eight extra-base hits, including six doubles and two homers in an 8-5 victory.
Rodriguez put the Bears on the board with an RBI single in the third and scored on a balk for a 2-0 lead, but Murray (26-23, 11-10) scored in its next two at bats to lead 3-2 after four innings.
Rodriguez got the lead back with a two-run homer in the fifth and Stewart added an RBI ground out for a 5-3 lead, and the Racers got one back with a leadoff triple and sac fly in the sixth.
The Bears gained all the margin they needed with four extra-base hits in a three-run eighth, beginning with a leadoff double by Spencer Nivens, his second of the day. Mason Hull followed with a home run, then Stewart and Taeg Gollert added two-baggers for an 8-4 lead.
The Racers shaved one run off the deficit in the eighth, and Garrett Ferguson tossed a 1-2-3 ninth for the Bears for his sixth save. Forrest Barnes (3-1) allowed a run on one hit in 2.1 relief innings for the winning decision.
