Game Day: Missouri State @ Simmons Field

■ The numbers:

• MSU is 18-24 (4-8 MO Valley)

• Boyd's World RPI: 171st

• Boyd's World ISR: 158th

■ Bears top Sycamores to prevent series sweep (tribstar.com)

Against an opponent also struggling at the plate — four of the Bears’ seven hits Sunday never left the infield, and a fifth was a soft fly ball that found an open space — Indiana State pitchers walked nine batters in the first six innings, after walking 11 and hitting two more a day earlier in a 10-3 ISU victory.
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Compounding the problem was the fact that the Bears were using their ace, or at least their former ace, on the mound. Aaron Meade of MSU, a preseason all-MVC selection who missed some time this season with an elbow problem, showed Sunday he was most of the way back by allowing just three hits.

■ Paxson finding his way for Bears (News-Leader.com)

Perhaps the slogan for this season's Missouri State baseball team should be this: "Experience. There is no substitute."

Tyler Paxson, one of five hitters making his first tour against Division I pitching, is a prime example.

"It's just been about getting more comfortable and getting more plate appearances," Paxson sad. "You just have to get in there and get your feet wet."

Paxson, a junior college transfer, hit two home runs Sunday in a doubleheader sweep of Creighton.

■ Bears fall short against Arkansas (News-Leader, April 28)

Missouri State walked away aggravated by Wednesday night's 5-4 loss to ninth-ranked Arkansas.

"We outplayed them," Bears pitcher Aaron Meade said. "We had more hits. A couple of calls here and there ... we're definitely frustrated."
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Home plate umpire Joe Brown ejected Guttin in the fourth as Guttin walked away from the mound after making a pitching change.

■ Bears drop 5-4 decision to No. 7 Arkansas (Missouri Valley Conference.com)

The Bears scored in the third when Travis McComack walked and scored on Kevin Medrano's two-out double. The two-bagger extended Medrano's hitting streak to 21 games, matching Evan Pratte (1990) for the fifth longest in school history.

■ Bears defeat Creighton twice in double header (News-Leader.com, April 26)

Overstreet clobbered a long home run leading off the ninth inning, giving MSU a 6-5 victory over Creighton and completing a doubleheader sweep before 318 fans.

"It was a good experience, it feels great and hopefully we'll continue to win," Overstreet said after sending a Bobby Lackovic changeup onto the roof of the Hammons Field training facility beyond the right-field fence.

The Bears won the opener 5-4 as Pat Doyle struck out 10 in seven innings and Tyler Paxson hit a three-run home run.