Missouri State ended its longest losing streak in two years with one of its best offensive showings of 2016, scoring 12 times in the first five innings en route to a 14-6 victory over Arkansas Tuesday evening at Hammons Field.
The Bears (29-14) capitalized on a series of early scoring opportunities to build an insurmountable lead before ultimately cruising to their second-largest run total in the clubs' 78-game series history with Arkansas. MSU recorded 12 hits, drew eight walks and went 7-for-18 with runners in scoring position against a total of eight UA hurlers on the night to put an end to a five-game losing streak.
Alex Jefferson finished his night 3-for-4 with three runs batted-in and three runs scored, while Jake Burger came within a double of hitting for the cycle in logging his fifth game this season with at least four RBIs.
The Bears came within one run of their best single-game total against the Razorbacks (26-19), which came on April 5, 1978 with a 15-4 win in Springfield. MSU improved to 19-5 at Hammons Field in 2016, notching its first home decision over the Razorbacks since 2006.
MSU rode the standout pitching of Austin Knight and a pair of critical third-inning hits to build an early lead, as the duo of Jefferson and Burger delivered back-to-back two-out hits to stake MSU to a 3-0 cushion.
Knight (4-1) would hold Arkansas in check in the early stages to allow MSU time to put its offense into high gear. The sophomore limited UA to a pair of Luke Bonfield doubles over the first four frames, striking out a career-best five hitters overall in his 5.2 innings.
Blake Graham, who doubled to spark MSU's third-inning rally, belted a long home run in the fourth to stretch the lead to four runs, before the Bears erupted for eight runs in the fifth to open up a 12-0 advantage. Hunter Steinmetz and Jefferson both tripled home runs to open the fifth-inning scoring, and Burger unloaded on a Josh Alberius offering for his Division I-leading 19th home run of the season to push the lead to nine runs.
The Bears were not finished, as Matt Fultz brought home a run with his fielder's choice bouncer to shortstop following a Jeremy Eierman single, a walk to Justin Paulsen and a hit-by-pitch to Graham. Steinmetz and Jefferson both added their second run-producing hits of the inning. Steinmetz stroked a two-run single to center with two out, before Jefferson banged a base hit through the right side of the Razorback infield to score Aaron Meyer and help the MSU match its best offensive inning of the season.
Arkansas answered with a five-run sixth of its own to slice the deficit to 12-5, using a leadoff home run from Carson Shaddy to bring its offense to life. Grant Koch singled home a pair with two out, before Eric Cole's triple to right-center off reliever Sam Perez plated two more.
MSU tacked on single tallies in the sixth and seventh innings courtesy of bases-loaded walks to both Meyer and Graham. In all, the Bears scored in five consecutive innings, with their fifth-inning rally matching an eight-run outburst vs. Missouri on April 12 as their best offensive inning of the season.
With his two hits in the fifth, Steinmetz drove home a total of three runs, while Graham brought home two runs as well with his 2-for-3 night. Meyer also enjoyed a productive night at the dish, reaching base safely in four of his five trips to the plate while driving home a run and scoring three of his own.
Perez followed Knight's strong outing with 2 1/3 innings of shutout relief, allowing just two hits.
For the Razorbacks, both Koch and Cole drove in a pair of runs with two-hit nights, while Shaddy and Bonfield each finished with two hits as well.
Missouri State continues its home stand this weekend with a Missouri Valley Conference series against Southern Illinois. The Bears and Salukis will open their three-game set Friday (May 6) with a 6:35 p.m. contest at Hammons Field.
