Bears use big inning to rout Redhawks

One huge inning was all it took for Missouri State University to rout visiting Southeast Missouri State.

The Bears exploded for 11 third-inning runs Tuesday night on their way to a 13-2 romp in Springfield, Mo.

MSU, the preseason Missouri Valley Conference favorite, improved to 7-10. Southeast fell to 10-7.

The teams will conclude their two-game series at 3 p.m. today.

Sophomore starter Brad LaBruyere held MSU without a hit or run over the first two innings before the roof caved in on the Redhawks.

LaBruyere (2-1) was knocked out in the third inning after retiring just one batter. He allowed two home runs, two doubles and two walks before giving way to senior Daniel Schuh, who fared little better in the frame.

LaBruyere was charged with six runs, while the Bears touched Schuh for five hits and five runs in the third, including a grand slam and a double.

Tyler Ryun got the grand slam, while All-American Ben Carlson belted his sixth homer of the season, a two-run shot, after he had 17 homers last year. Brayden Drake followed Carlson's shot with a solo blast as he extended his hitting streak to a school-record 25 games.

MSU sent 16 men to the plate in the third, including 11 straight without a batter being retired during one stretch.

Among the offensive highlights for Southeast was the first collegiate homer by freshman Jesse Tierney, who did not start the game and had received only 18 at-bats previously this season.

Tierney led off the eighth inning with a pinch-hit shot against freshman Ryan Modglin, a Scott City product who was facing his first batter of the night.

Modglin gave up another home run in the ninth, to sophomore Louie Haseltine, who also did not start. It was Haseltine's second homer of the season in just 23 at-bats.

Southeast managed only four hits off MSU's J.C. Casey, who worked seven dominant innings in his first start of the season. The sophomore had pitched only 7 1/3 innings before Tuesday's contest.

Casey (1-1), originally slated to be MSU's closer this year, struck out six and walked none.

Besides the two homers, Southeast's only other extra-base hit was a seventh-inning double by Haseltine, who went 2-for-2.

Southeast's other hits were singles by senior right fielder Tyrell Cummings, senior first baseman Matt Wagner, junior center fielder Nick Harris and freshman shortstop Kenton Parmley.

Cummings has hit safely in all 17 games this season.

The most effective of Southeast's four pitchers was sophomore Corey Harness, who allowed one run and two hits in three innings, with five strikeouts and three walks. He had worked only two innings previously this season.

MSU added an eighth-inning run off junior left-hander Greg Hendrix.

The Bears finished with 12 hits, but only three came in an inning other than the third.