Missouri State opened the 2016 in mid-season form Friday afternoon, getting an early offensive explosion and shutdown pitching for a 12-1 win over the University of Central Arkansas at Bear Stadium. The Bears (1-0), who put the game out of reach with a seven-run outburst in the fifth, out-hit UCA 11-5 and rode the left arm of Jordan Knutson to their fourth consecutive opening-day win.
Aaron Meyer spearheaded the MSU attack, going 3-for-4 with four runs scored and a career-best three RBIs, two of which came on his first-inning homer. Knutson (1-0), who limited the Bears to one run on four hits in 6 2/3 innings, retired the first 13 hitters of the game in order, allowing MSU to build an 11-0 lead before UCA put its first runner on base.
The win extended the Bears’ opening day win streak to four games and ran their all-time record in season openers to 34-19.
MSU’s potent offense hit the field in high gear, as freshman leadoff man Hunter Steinmetz greeted UCA starter Connor Gilmore with a base hit to right on the game’s first offering. Meyer put the first notch in the 2016 scoring column two pitches later when the junior drove his first collegiate home run over the wall in right for an early 2-0 MSU lead.
A pair of UCA (0-1) miscues in the third helped open up a four-run margin for the Bears. After Meyer drew a one-out walk, Jake Burger hit what appeared to be a tailor-made double-play ball to short, only to catch a key break when it scooted under the glove of Brooks Balisterri. Next, Justin Paulsen drove a run-scoring single to left-center that would ultimately plate two when Tyler Langley misplayed the ball.
Three consecutive extra-base hits kicked off the Bears’ big inning, as back-to-back doubles by Paulsen and Graham started the rally before Johnson launched a long drive that caromed off the top of the center field fence for a run-scoring three-base hit. Matt Fultz singled home Johnson with a liner to right-center, and Meyer added an RBI single as well before Burger belted a towering three-run blast over the wall in center to make it an 11-0 game.
Knutson, who fanned seven and walked three on the day, was in command throughout his outing, striking out a pair in the first and recording at least one punchout in the first three frames. Logan Preston, who went 3-for-4 to lead UCA, would finally break the spell with one out in the fifth by blooping a single to shallow right. Justin McCarty then singled with two out to bring home Preston with the lone UCA tally of the day.
MSU relievers Nick Brown and Austin Knight followed Knutson’s effort by holding the Bears in check over the final 2 1/3 innings. Brown took over with the bases loaded in the seventh and promptly retired Langley on a fly to center to squash the threat. The sophomore cruised through a 1-2-3 eighth, and Knight locked up the victory with a scoreless ninth.
In addition to Meyer’s performance, both Paulsen and Graham turned in two-hit efforts and combined to drive in three runs. Steinmetz sparked the MSU offense as well, drawing a pair of walks and scoring twice to complement his leadoff hit in the first.
MSU and UCA will wrap up their opening series Saturday (Feb. 20) with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.
