SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (3-19-2008) ? The Missouri State Bears (12-4) scored seven runs in the first two innings and went on to defeat the Arkansas State Indians 9-4 in a non-conference game Wednesday afternoon at Hammons Field.
Missouri State loaded the bases with no outs in the first and cashed in with five runs before ASU starter Jett Jones could get out of the inning. Third baseman Brayden Drake, left fielder Ryan Mantle and catcher Dallas Hord all drove in runs for the Bears, and Missouri State's other first inning run scored when Jones hit designated hitter Ben Carlson with the bases loaded to bring in a run.
An RBI triple from right fielder Nolan Keane pushed the Missouri State lead to 6-0 in the second and ended the day for Jones. An RBI double from Drake that ricocheted off the bag at third base plated another run for the Bears in the second to stretch the Missouri State lead to 7-0.
Freshman Andy Ferguson came on to relieve Jones and after giving up the hit to Drake that plated the Bears' seventh run, Ferguson retired seven straight. Ferguson gave up a pair of singles in the fifth before being charged with a wild pitch that allowed a run to score and bumped the Missouri State lead to 8-0 after five.
Arkansas State (11-8) loaded the bases with two outs in the fourth and came away empty, but loaded the bags again in the fifth with no outs and ended the frame with three runs. Second baseman Brandon Eller grounded out to score left fielder Cody Pace, and first baseman Drew Benes delivered a two-out double to drive home two more and cut the Missouri State lead to 8-5.
Ferguson loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth, then hit center fielder Ben Woodbury to give the Bears one of the runs back and push the MSU lead to 9-3.
The Tribe added a run in the eighth when redshirt freshman Cade Baxter doubled and eventually scored on a ground-out from redshirt freshman Danny Riemenschneider, setting the final at 9-4.
Both teams finished with 10 hits on the day, with Hudgins and Benes leading the way for ASU with two hits each. Drake went 4-for-5 with two RBI's to lead the Bears at the plate.
Kyle Boschert (2-0) picked up the win for Missouri State, giving up three runs on six hits in six innings of work. Boschert walked three Indians and struck out five.
Jones (0-4) took the loss for ASU, giving up seven runs on five hits, with two walks and a strikeout in 1.1 innings.
Arkansas State will return to Tomlinson Stadium and Kell Field March 21-23 for a 3-game Sun Belt Conference series against the league-leading Warhawks of Louisiana-Monroe.
