SPRINGFIELD – Taeg Gollert became the first player in Missouri State history to hit two grand slams in a game, the second of the walk-off variety in the bottom of the ninth inning to hand the Bears a 14-10 victory and sweep of visiting Bradley Sunday at Hammons Field.
Gollert also went yard in the first inning, with a list of notables on the day including:
First individual in school history with two grand slams in a game
Ties a Missouri Valley Conference record with two grand slams in a game
First MSU freshman with a grand slam in February 2019
First walk-off grand slam by a Bear since April 2013
Eight RBI are the most by a Bear since April 2016 (Spencer Johnson, 9)
Third player in NCAA Division I this season with two grand slams in a game, and first to include a walk-off
Sixth occurrence in MSU history with two grand slams by the team and first since April 2021
Gollert’s heroics were only part of a wild game in which Bradley (10-17, 3-6 MVC) hit a three-run homer in the first inning after which the lead changed hands five times, beginning with the Canada native’s slam in the bottom of the first.
BU got the lead back in the second at 5-4, made it 7-4 in the third, and the Bears (16-14, 5-4) pulled even at 8-8 in the sixth on Zack Stewart’s two-run single followed by a Cam Cratic RBI hit, one of four on the day for the sixth-year senior to tie a career high in base knocks.
Spencer Nivens put MSU up 9-8 in the seventh with an RBI single, Bradley pulled even by homering on the first pitch of the eighth inning, then used a one-out walk, steal and RBI single to lead 10-9 in the ninth.
The Braves sent Connor Langrell (1-1) to the mound, who entered with seven saves and a 0.00 ERA in 11.2 innings. He walked the bases loaded with one out, Stewart drove in the tying run on an error by the shortstop, and Gollert sent the game-winning drive in the left field bullpen.
Nick Rodriguez drew four walks and scored four times from the leadoff spot – both career highs – and Mason Hull drew four more walks behind him as MSU worked a season-high 14 free passes in the game.
The teams combined to use 12 pitchers, with Scott Youngbrandt steadying MSU in the middle innings by tossing five frames and yielding two runs. Garrett Ferguson (1-0) got the final two outs for the winning decision after recording the save in each of the first two games of the series.
The Bears stay at home to take on Missouri at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.
