NORMAL, Ill. – Missouri State slugged three home runs and sat down the Illinois State offense in order six times Friday afternoon on the way to an 8-6 victory in the Missouri Valley Conference series opener at Duffy Bass Field.
Missouri State (12-12, 1-3 MVC) got hits from eight of its nine starters with five going for extra bases and struck out just five times on a day that the Redbirds (8-12, 1-3) got six innings from starter and MVC strikeout leader Derek Salata.
The first five Bears reached safely in a three-run third inning, with Spencer Nivens getting the scoring started with a two-run single and the third run coming home on a double play. Cody Kelly then led off the fourth inning with his fifth homer of the year to make it 4-0.
After MSU’s Brandt Thompson cruised through three innings on 32 pitches without allowing a baserunner, ISU began its half of the fourth with a single that opened the floodgates for four runs to cross the plate and tie the score.
The score remained 4-4 until the seventh when the Bears added four more runs on three consecutive two-out extra-base hits, the first Zack Stewart’s MVC-leading 12th double of the year, then back-to-back home runs from Mason Hull and Dylan Robertson for an 8-4 advantage.
ISU made it interesting with two doubles and a single to begin the ninth inning, and a timely double play turned by the Bears stopped the rally at 8-6.
Thompson went 5.2 innings in the start, Trey Ziegenbein (1-2) retired all seven batters he faced to earn the win in his 87th career appearance, tying for second in school history. Scott Youngbrandt threw the ninth.
The series continues at 3 p.m. Saturday.
