SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State clubbed a season-high eight extra-base hits Saturday afternoon at Hammons Field to secure a series win over Memphis with a 14-5 victory.
Caden Bogenpohl reached base five times, including a 452-foot homer in a six-run third inning, driving in four runs on the day and passing Eric Cheray for third all-time on Missouri State’s career walks list with 131 thanks to three free passes.
Max Knight went 3-for-5 with four RBIs as well, and the Bears (9-5) piled up a season-high run total while improving to 6-0 at home.
Memphis (3-11) scored in its first at bat and the Bears responded with a four-run first, with Taeg Gollert’s RBI single and Knight’s three-run single doing the damage.
Knight started the big third inning with an RBI single, Bryce Cermenelli added a two-run double followed by Bogenpohl’s blast for a 10-1 advantage.
After Memphis hit a three-run triple in the fourth, Carter Bergman led off the bottom half with his fifth homer of the season, and Gollert added a sac fly in the fifth for a 12-4 lead.
Logan Fyffe and Bogenpohl hit RBI doubles in the sixth for the 14-5 final, as the Mo State bullpen trio of Ross Felder, Brody McNiel and Lance Wade combined for four shutout innings in relief of Brock Lucas (2-2), who went five innings in the start.
All nine starters recorded a hit and scored a run for the Bears.
The Bears go for their second consecutive series sweep at 1 p.m. Sunday, and select players will be signing autographs in the concourse beginning at 12:20.
