Missouri State University

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Missouri State catcher Brett Marshall legged out an infield single with two out and the bases loaded in the eighth inning Tuesday to drive in the winning run as the Bears (5-10) defeated Arkansas State (10-6) by a 2-1 final at Hammons Field.

    Marshall’s bouncer looked like a clean single through the left side off the bat, but ASU shortstop Jordan Kimball tracked it down and fired and strong throw across the diamond. Marshall dove head-long into first and was ruled safe, scoring Kevin Medrano for a 2-1 lead.

    Arkansas State scored first to break up a scoreless game in the fourth. A Missouri State error on a ball that looked like a double play opportunity to end the frame resulted in the bases loaded with one out. Jordan Castaldo followed with an RBI single to center, and Pierce Johnson got the next batter to ground into a double play that the defense did complete to keep the score at 1-0 in favor of ASU.

    The Red Wolves gave the run back on an error in the bottom of the fourth when Castaldo let Tyler Ryun’s roller to third go through his legs, allowing Keenen Maddox to score after his one-out double.

    Johnson struck out a career-high eight while yielding two singles and a run over six innings before giving way to Blake Barber in the seventh with the score tied at 1-1. Barber (1-2) threw two scoreless frames and got the win, and freshman Grant Gordon fanned a pair in the ninth for the save.

    Missouri State dodged an ASU scoring attempt in the eighth when Todd Baumgartner doubled into the left field corner with Giovanni Garcia on first. Maddox chased the ball down in left, fired to Travis McComack in shallow left, and the MSU shortstop relayed home to Marshall, who blocked the plate and tagged out the sliding Garcia to keep the game tied.

    The Bears and Red Wolves meet again at 3 p.m. Wednesday.