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Eric Doennig (MSU Sports Information) SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Kansas rallied for three runs against the Missouri State bullpen over the final two innings of Tuesday evening’s non-conference matchup at Hammons Field, as the Jayhawks stopped the Bears’ win streak at three games with a 4-2 decision.
Pinch-hitter Ty Denzer’s two-out single to center plated the tying run for Kansas, before a wild pitch from Bryan Young chased home the go-ahead run for the Jayhawks. Zach Leban (2-1) and Stephen Villines combined to lock down the final 2 2/3 innings for KU, stranding six MSU baserunners over the final three frames to preserve the lead.
Missouri State struggled to generate offense, despite putting its leadoff man aboard in six different innings. The Bears went just 3-for-24 with runners on base and stranded a season-high 13 men overall, including nine over the final five innings.
The Bears (18-10) appeared poised to lock down their fourth-straight win after taking a 2-1 lead in the seventh on a bases-loaded walk to Jeremy Eierman. But MSU squandered an opportunity to add to its margin, leaving the bases loaded after Leban fanned Blake Graham and retired Alex Jefferson on a fly ball to center to end the threat.
KU (13-15) would respond immediately in the eighth, using a leadoff single by Tanner Gragg and a two-out walk to Brett Vosik to set the table for the game’s key rally. Just 2-for-13 on the season entering the contest, Denzer stroked an 0-1 Jake Fromson pitch to center to bring in Gragg with the equalizing tally. Young relieved Fromson with runners on the corners and the senior closer’s first pitch sailed well over the head of catcher Drew Millas, whose ensuing tag of Vosik at the plate was ruled a split second late.
MSU mounted a last-ditch rally in the ninth, as an error on a Justin Paulsen grounder and a Jake Burger infield hit put runners at first and second with nobody out. A failed bunt attempt by Eierman, followed by a Logan Geha sacrifice brought Jefferson to the plate with the potential tying run in scoring position.
But Villines blew a 1-2 pitch past the senior outfielder to lock up his seventh save of the season and end the Bears’ hopes for a fourth-straight come-from-behind victory.
Fromson (3-3) was tagged with the loss, as the usually-dominant Bears bullpen surrendered its first defeat in 18 games this season when holding a lead after seven innings. MSU received a strong outing from freshman left-hander Nate Witherspoon, who held the Jayhawks to just one run on four hits, while striking out five in 4.0 innings. Fellow rookie Alex Moore added 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief in his longest outing as a Bear to date.
Graham led the MSU offense with a 2-for-4 day at the plate, while Aaron Meyer accounted for the first Bears run of the game with his RBI single in the fourth.
KU’s Matt McLaughlin carried the load for the Jayhawks with a 4-for-5 afternoon that included his second home run of the season—a two-out solo shot that opened the scoring in the top of the third.
Missouri State continues its nine-game home stand Friday (April 7) with the opening game of a key Missouri Valley Conference series against Dallas Baptist. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Hammons Field.
