Box Score SPRINGFIELD, Mo. ? Missouri State (6-7) scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the seventh and reliever Matt Frevert struck out all six batters he faced over the final two frames to help the Bears pull out a 6-5 win over UALR (7-11) on Tuesday night.
After UALR rallied to score two runs in the top of the sixth and tie the game at 5-all, Missouri State retook the lead in the top of the seventh after Brayden Drake sparked the team with a one-out double to left. Junior Mike Rogers (2-3) got Ryan Mantle to fly out to left for the second out, but could not get past Matt Lawson, who drove in the winning run with a single through the left side.
Drake led the Bears with a 3-for-4 day at the plate, while Ben Woodbury went 2-for-4 with three RBI, each of which came on a three-run homer in the bottom of the second. Pat Doyle (1-0) picked up his first win of the season with 2.0 innings of relief, while Frevert went the final 2.0 innings to pick up his second save of the year. Frevert took the mound at the start of the eighth and preserved the one-run lead by striking out all six batters he faced.
UALR took a 3-0 lead in the top of the second as junior Osvaldo Torres and senior Brian Smiley each singled to start off the inning. Junior Robert Taylor put the Trojans on the board with a two-run double to center. Taylor moved up to third on a sacrifice bunt, and came around to score on a two-out double by sophomore Daniel Guffey.
Missouri State answered in the bottom half with four runs off a pair of big hits. Mantle made it a 1-0 contest with a solo homer to center off freshman Ashur Tolliver. Woodbury's two-out, three-run homer moments later gave the Bears a 4-3 lead.
Missouri State extended its lead to two runs, 5-3, in the bottom of the fifth after Drake doubled down the left field line and moved up to third on a wild pitch. Mantle drew a one-out walk to put runners on the corners, and Lawson followed with a fielder's choice which allowed Drake to score from third.
Down 5-3, the Trojans tied the game at 5-all by plating a pair of runs in the top of the sixth. Torres and Smiley got the Trojans going once again, as the duo delivered back-to-back singles to start the inning. Starter Tim Clubb was pulled in favor of Doyle after loading the bases with no outs by walking Taylor. Doyle induced a 5-4-3 double play from the first batter he faced, though Torres scored on the play to bring UALR within one, 5-4. King followed with a two-out single to right center to tie the game at 5-all.
UALR banged out 12 hits in the loss with Torres, Smiley, King and senior Ryan Gotcher accounting for two hits a piece. Tolliver took a no decision after working 5.1 innings with nine hits and five runs allowed. Rogers received the loss after allowing one run and three hits over 2.2 innings of relief.
The Trojans return to Gary Hogan Field this weekend for a three-game non-conference series with Centenary. Friday's game is slated for a 6 p.m. start.
