CHICAGO – Brandt Thompson threw six shutout innings and Anthony Socci and Will Duff homered in a three-run fourth inning Friday evening to help the Bears to a 6-2 victory in their Missouri Valley Conference series opener at league newcomer UIC.
Missouri State (17-15, 6-4 MVC) took the lead in the opening frame when Nick Rodriguez and Spencer Nivens singled to put runners on the corners before Zack Stewart drove the lead runner home with a ground out. Rodriguez and Nivens both collected three hits in the contest.
Jake McCutcheon’s second hit of the game preceded Anthony Socci lifting his second homer in as many games out of Curtis Granderson Stadium, and Will Duff hit a solo shot two batters later for a 4-0 advantage.
Meanwhile, Thomspon (4-3) cruised through six scoreless innings, allowing two singles and two walks while striking out six Flames (14-15, 3-7).
Trey Ziegenbein was the first Bear out of the bullpen, breaking All-American Bryan Young’s school record with his 89th career appearance. The Flames cracked the scoreboard in that same inning, loading the bases with one out and scoring on a one-out error and two-out RBI single for a 4-2 score.
Scott Youngbrandt relieved Ziegenbein and recorded four outs, and Garrett Ferguson got the last four outs for his third save.
The Bears picked up two insurance runs in the ninth, beginning with a Socci leadoff double. The senior catcher scored on Cam Cratic’s pinch-hit single, and Drew Townsend, pinch-running for Cratic, scored on a Nivens double for a 6-2 lead.
MSU pitchers did not yield an extra-base hit in the game and recorded nine strikeouts.
Game two of the series is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday.
