March 22, 2026 — Missouri State outlasted Middle Tennessee 10-9 in a back-and-forth slugfest at Hammons Field in Springfield, Mo. The Bears rallied from an early 6-4 deficit with a decisive three-run seventh inning to claim the Conference USA victory in front of 562 fans.
Middle Tennessee (12-12, 2-4 CUSA) struck early with a three-run first inning and Dean O’Neill’s three-run homer in the second for a 6-4 lead. Back-to-back solo shots from Nathan Brewer and Layne Akers in the fifth stretched it to 8-5, but Missouri State (15-7, 5-1 CUSA) kept clawing back. Brant Kragel’s two-run double in the fifth cut the deficit, and a three-run seventh — capped by Bryce Cermenelli’s go-ahead RBI single — gave the Bears a 10-8 lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
Brock Lucas (3-2) earned the win with 3.1 innings of relief. Landen Burch (4-3) took the loss. Curry Sutherland recorded the final out for the save.
Key performers
| Player | Stats |
|---|---|
| Owen Nowak (MT) | 3-for-5, 2 R, BB |
| Cooper Clapp (MT) | 3-for-4, R, BB, 3B, SB |
| Logan Fyffe (MOS) | 3-for-4, R, 2 RBI, 2B |
| Brock Lucas (MOS) | 3.1 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 K (W) |
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