SPRINGFIELD, Mo. ? South Dakota State scored five times in the final three innings to rally for a 6-3 victory over Missouri State Sunday afternoon, and salvage the final game of a three-game collegiate baseball series.
The Jackrabbits improved to 10-11 on the season, while Missouri State evened its record at 8-8.
Missouri State opened the scoring with two runs on four hits in the first inning against Jackrabbit starter
Caleb Thielbar. Matt Lawson drove in both runs with a base hit through the left side, scoring Ben Woodbury and Nolan Keane.
The Jackrabbits got on the board in the top of the second inning as
Chris Iverson singled home
Craig Parry, who led off the inning with a walk.
MSU regained a two-run lead in the fourth inning on an RBI single by Woodbury.
From there it was all SDSU. The Jackrabbits took a 4-3 lead in the top of the seventh, scoring three times on just one hit.
Cal Lewis opened the inning with a walk,
Chris Iverson was hit by a pitch, and the Jackrabbits loaded the bases on the lone hit of the inning -- a bunt single by
Tim Hanigan.
Korby Mintken then reached on an error to push across the first run and
Jake Rogers followed with a bases-loaded walk to force in the tying run.
Nick Adams later drove in the go-ahead run with a groundout.
Isaac Johnson entered the game in relief in the seventh and held Missouri State to one hit over the next three innings to earn his second save of the season. The sophomore right-hander struck out three and walked one.
Thielbar worked the first six innings as he evened his record at 2-2. He struck out three and walked two, while scattering 10 hits.
The Jackrabbits tacked on runs in the eighth and ninth innings. Lewis led off the eighth with a triple and scored on Iverson's third hit of the game. In the ninth, Adams scored the final run of the game on an error.
Budd Baumann took the loss in relief for Missouri State.
Ryan Mantle led MSU's 11-hit attack with a 3-for-4 effort at the plate.
The Jackrabbits are scheduled to open the home season Wednesday against North Dakota, although the game is in doubt due to unfavorable field conditions. Should SDSU not play Wednesday, the Jackrabbits' next action is slated for Friday with games against Chicago State (Ill.) and Valparaiso in Valparaiso (Ind.).
SDSU 6, Missouri State 3SDSU 010 000 311 6-5-1
MSU 200 100 000 3-11-3
SDSU:
Caleb Thielbar,
Isaac Johnson (7) and
Tony Martin. MSU: Jake Shafer, Budd Baumann (7) and Kyle Paul.
W-Thielbar (2-2). L-Baumann (0-2). Save-Johnson (2).
Box Score