Missouri State scored two runs in the first but could not withstand an eight-run outburst by eighth-ranked Missouri in the middle three innings and suffered an 8-4 defeat in a game that was called due to rain in the top of the seventh.
Missouri State fell to 19-11 on the season, while the Tigers improved to 23-8.
The Bears capitalized on a Missouri error to score two runs in the first. After MU starter Brad Buehler walked Ben Woodbury and Nolan Keane, Brayden Drake grounded a ball up the middle that was fielded by the shortstop. Andrew Thigpen flipped the ball to Greg Folgia at second to force out Keane, but Folgia hurled the relay throw over the first baseman’s head to let Woodbury score and Drake to advance to second. Ben Carlson then knocked a single through the left side to score Drake.
After stranding five baserunners in the first three innings, the first three Tiger reached in the fourth and Missouri tied the game at 2-2 with just one out in the frame after an RBI double and a sacrifice fly. Another double gave MU its first lead before reliever Sean Toler got the final out to end the inning.
The Tigers added two more in the fifth, getting a two-out, two-run homer from Jonah Schmidt to make the score 5-2 in favor of the visitors, but the Bears responded in the bottom of the inning when Drake doubled home Keane to pull the Bears within 5-3.
Jacob Priday crushed a three-run homer for the Tigers in the top of the sixth to extend the lead to 8-3, and the Bears got a run back two batters later after Kyle Paul tripled and Ryan Mantle singled him home.
Missouri loaded the bases with no outs in the seventh before the umpires called for the tarp and the game was declared official after a 20-minute delay.
Courtesy, Missouri State Athletic Department
