SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (3/16/10) – The Arkansas State Red Wolves (10-6) came
up on the wrong end of a pitchers' duel, falling 2-1 to Missouri State when the
Bears (5-10) punched a run across in the bottom of the eighth in game one of a
two-game series Tuesday night at Hammons Field.
Arkansas State starter Andres Caceres struck out seven batters,
while giving up just one unearned run in seven innings of work. Caceres surrendered four hits, while walking
three Bears on the night. Missouri State's
Pierce Johnson also gave up just one run, striking out eight batters while
allowing just two hits in six innings on the mound.
Missouri State took advantage of three walks from ASU reliever
John Koch in the bottom of the eighth to load the bases with one out, and
catcher Brett Marshall's infield single sent home what proved to be the winning
run. Koch (1-2) took the loss for the
Red Wolves, giving up one run on one hit in two-thirds of an inning.
After three scoreless innings, both teams took advantage of errors
to send home a single run in the fourth.
Arkansas State second baseman Giovanni Garcia used a leadoff walk to get
aboard in the top of the frame and moved to second on a walk from right fielder
Todd Baumgartner. Both runners advanced
when designated hitter Ryan Emery reached on an error, and Garcia scored on a
single from third baseman Jordan Castaldo.
Missouri State tied the game in the bottom of the inning when left
fielder Keenan Maddox doubled to left field, and scored when third baseman
Tyler Ryun reached on the Arkansas State error.
Arkansas State put runners in scoring position in the sixth and
eighth innings, and the Bears threatened in the sixth as well, but neither team
was able to score until Marshall's RBI in the bottom of the eighth.
Reliever Blake Barber (1-2) threw two scoreless innings to get the
win for Missouri State, striking out one while giving up two hits. Gordon Grant earned the save, striking out
two in the final inning without allowing a hit.
Garcia, Baumgartner, Emery and Castaldo had ASU's four hits on the
night, while Maddox and Marshall each had two hits to pace Missouri State.
The two teams will wrap up the series Wednesday at 3:00 p.m.
