SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Missouri State rode the first three-home run game by a Bear in 17 years to an 18-11 victory over Kansas Wednesday evening at Hammons Field. Led by Spencer Johnson's three long balls and Jeremy Eierman's first four-hit game as a Bear, MSU (24-5) produced its best single-game run total since the 2008 season to record its fifth consecutive win.
Johnson belted a first-inning grand slam, a three-run shot as part of a five-run fourth inning and a two-run blast in the seventh to become the first Bear to go deep three times in a game since Jon Hale accomplished the feat on April 20, 1999 against Pittsburg State. The senior outfielder’s nine runs batted-in matched the single-game totals of Matt Brewer (April 20, 1989) and Brad Kennedy (May 16, 1996) for the second-best tally in program history, trailing only an 11-RBI effort by John Knott on May 2, 1992.
Eierman doubled home a pair of runs to cap the Bears’ six-run first, then added three singles to log the fourth four-hit game by a Missouri State player this spring. Jake Burger homered, scored four runs and drove home three more as part of his 3-for-6 night, while Justin Paulsen also crossed the plate four times and reached base safely in all five of his plate appearances with a 3-for-3 performance.
MSU’s offensive explosion marked its best run total since a 21-10 beat-down of Indiana State on May 4, 2008, while its 18 hits matched its 2016 season high on the heels of setting a program record for walks (18) in a game in Tuesday’s 15-4 win over Saint Louis.
Despite the lopsided final margin, the Bears were forced to rally for a victory for the 13th time this year, erasing a 3-0 KU lead. After the visitors seized the upper hand on Colby Wright’s three-run double in the top of the first, the Bears took advantage of the first of the Jayhawks’ four defensive miscues to turn the tables in the home half of the inning. Burger initiated the two-out rally with a base hit, setting off a chain reaction that saw seven consecutive MSU batters reach base safely. A walk to Paulsen kept the inning alive, before KU third baseman Jordan Pidhaichuk’s throw to first was in the dirt on a Blake Graham one-hopper.
That would open the door Johnson’s first critical blow, a towering drive that cleared the wall in right-center field for the sixth grand slam by a Bear this season. But MSU wasn’t done, as a single by Matt Fultz and a walk to Aaron Meyer set up Eierman’s two-run double to right that handed MSU a 6-3 advantage.
MSU added a run in the second after Burger waved and missed at a third strike, but reached first when the pitch skipped past catcher Tanner Gragg. Paulsen followed with a double, before Graham’s sac fly made it a 7-3 contest.
The Bears opened up an eight-run cushion thanks to a five-run fourth that was highlighted by Johnson’s three-run blast. Just as the did in the first inning, the Bears used a Burger single and a walk to Paulsen to set the stage for the red-hot heart of their batting order. Graham’s two-bagger brought home a run, before Johnson unloaded on a Hayden Edwards pitch, driving his second homer of the day over the center field fence that made it an 11-4 game.
Paulsen doubled and scored on Fultz’s RBI single in the fifth, before Johnson struck again in the seventh with a man aboard after the Jayhawks (11-16) had trimmed the margin to 13-8 with two runs in the top half of the frame.
After watching Johnson momentarily pass him for the team and Missouri Valley Conference home run lead, Burger put the finishing touches on the outburst with his 12th circuit clout of the year—a three-run shot that cleared the left field bullpen to stretch the MSU advantage back to seven runs.
Bears right-hander Jake Fromson (4-0) picked up the win in support of starter Andy Cheray working 2.2 innings of two-hit relief. Bryan Young then closed out the victory by retiring the final four hitters of the night in order.
Fultz and Hunter Steinmetz each added two-hit performances, while Graham drove in a pair for the Bears, who improved to 16-3 at home in 2016.
Michael Tinsley led the Jayhawks (11-16) with a three-hit game, while Wright finished 2-for-5 with three RBIs. KU starter Blake Goldsberry (0-4) suffered the mound setback after giving up 10 runs (four earned) on seven hits over 3.0 innings.
Up next, the Bears open their 26th season of Missouri Valley Conference play Friday (April 8) with the first of a three-game series against Bradley at Dozer Park in Peoria, Ill.
