The Standard

Issue date: 3/19/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Chris Cox

It was bombs away Tuesday night when the Missouri State baseball team played Southeast Missouri State, a game in which the Bears hit three home runs - in the third inning.

It all started when freshman Travis McCormack was sent to first base after a walk. Sophomore Aaron Conway then notched the first hit of the game for the Bears with a double to bring home McCormack.

That's when things started to get crazy. Junior Ben Carlson blasted his sixth home run of the season on top of the indoor training facility deep in right field.

Following Carlson, senior Brayden Drake smashed a home run of his own. In the process, he set the Missouri State record for longest hitting streak (25 games).

The Bears then managed to load the bases, which were then cleared in grand- slam fashion by sophomore Tyler Ryun for the third home run of the inning.

Following that, the Bears loaded the bases again thanks to a McCormack double, a Conway walk and a single from freshman Kevin Medrano. Carlson was then hit by a pitch, bringing in a run. Drake then hit a two-RBI single to make the score 11-0.

"We just got guys on, and we scored early," Carlson said of the big inning. "It's big when you do that.

"We got pitches to hit, and we took advantage of that. When you can score early, it's easier to play the game."

All nine Missouri State starters scored a run in the prolific inning, and all but one managed to get a hit. The Bears sent 16 batters to the plate in all.

The Bears starting pitcher, sophomore J.C. Casey (1-1), worked seven scoreless innings in the game, surrendering only four hits and striking out six batters.

The Bears success continued on Wednesday as they came out swinging and tallied four runs in the first inning and eight runs in the second.

Drake delivered the first run of the game with an RBI single.

Following that, Medrano scored on a balk and Trevor Rogers came through in the clutch with a two-out, two-RBI single to cap the first inning scoring.

In the second inning, Drake struck again, hitting a two-run single.

Playter then loaded the bases on a walk and Dallas Hord answered by hitting the Bears' second grand slam of the series.

Hord finished 3-for-3 with four RBIs in the afternoon game.

Continued...

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