PEORIA, Ill. – Brandt Thompson fired seven scoreless innings and freshman Curry Sutherland went 4-for-5 with four RBI to lead the Bears to a 9-0 win at Bradley Friday in the Missouri Valley Conference series opener at Dozer Park.
Thompson (4-0) scattered just three singles and allowed five total runners – none beyond second base – while striking out six, and Sutherland became the first MSU freshman with four hits in a game since Spencer Nivens in February 2022.
Kaleb Thomas and Stephen Schissler pitched the final two innings to complete Missouri State’s first shutout since blanking UIC in last year’s MVC Tournament.
Zack Stewart put the Bears ahead for good with an RBI triple in the first inning, and Sutherland and Nick Rodriguez connected on consecutive RBI doubles in the fourth to make it 3-0.
Sutherland slugged his first career home run in the sixth, a solo shot to left, and added a two-run double as part of a four-run seventh on the way to nine total bases in the game.
Dylan Leach began the scoring in the seventh with a sacrifice fly and Jahlani Rogers had a two-out RBI single, and Taeg Gollert capped the scoring with a solo home run in the ninth for the 9-0 final.
Game two of the series is at 2 p.m. Saturday.
