Sangamon Sun

Baseball Splits Doubleheader at Missouri State

SIUE baseball split a doubleheader Friday to open a three-game series at Missouri State. The Cougars won the opener 2-1 behind an outstanding start from Jake Bockenstedt. Missouri State won the second game, blanking SIUE 14-0.

"We're 1-1 today and the series is up for grabs," SIUE Head Coach Sean Lyons said.

SIUE ran its winning streak to six games following the game one win. The Cougars are 10-3 overall. Missouri State is 8-5.

Brennan Orf put the Cougars on top in the third with an RBI-single to drive home Drew Mize, who had doubled to start the inning.

The Bears answered immediately with a pair of one-out singles in the bottom of the inning. A wild pitch brought home the tying-run.

The Cougars took advantage of an error in the top of the seventh to break a 1-1 tie. Avery Owusu-Asiedu led off the inning with a bunt, then scored when Missouri State pitcher Brandt Thompson threw the ball away on a sacrifice bunt attempt.

'We were able to take advantage of those opportunities," Lyons added.

Bockenstedt worked a career-best eight innings and tied his season-high with nine strikeouts.

"It was an excellent pitching performance out of 'Bock,'" Lyons said. "It was truly a pitcher's duel."

Zeus Ponder worked the ninth to record his fourth save of the season. He struck out one and gave up two hits.

Aside from driving in the tying run, Orf may have saved the game in the ninth for SIUE. The Bears had runners at first and second and one out in the inning, when MSU third baseman Dylan Robertson hit a deep drive to left. Orf was able to run the ball down, making a leaping catch against the left field wall. Ponder fanned the next hitter to end the game.

Missouri State scored seven times on nine hits against SIUE pitchers Hayden Cooper and Conrad Teague. There were also four walks in the inning.

"They took advantage of some free bases," Lyons said. "They strung some hits together in a row. Nothing was hit overly hard."

Of the nine hits, eight were singles. Zach Stewart had the only extra base hit in the inning, scoring three runs with a bases-clearing triple.

The Bears scored four more times in the third on three hits.

MSU outhit SIUE 14-5 in the contest.

Dimitri Ivetic worked 3 1/3 scoreless innings in relief, allowing a hit with a walk and a strikeout. Gunner Millsap struck out two in a scoreless inning. Spencer Stearns allowed an unearned run in the eighth.

"The bright spot is that all three pitched well out of the bullpen," Lyons said.

The final game of the series had been planned for Saturday but was moved back to Sunday because of weather concerns.

Original source can be found here