No. 12 Oklahoma State scored 7 runs in the 7th inning to overcome Missouri State, 12-10, on Tuesday night. The teams combined for 22 runs on 27 hits, with the Bears jumping out to a 5-0 lead after 2 innings. But the Cowboys wouldn’t be thwarted, tying the game in the 6th inning. Missouri State responded, however, to take an 8-5 advantage before the OSU uprising in the 7th.
Missouri State CF Spencer Nivens doubled twice, homered, and drove in 4 runs in the loss. Nivens now has 4 doubles and 4 homers on the season, good for a .882 slugging percentage (1.282 OPS). Bears 3B Dylan Robertson also had a big night, homering twice, both solo shots. They were Robertson’s first two homers of the season and as a team, the Bears now have 16 in 8 games.
Both teams exit the matchup 5-3. Missouri State travels to Arkansas State for 3 games this weekend. The Red Wolves are 6-3 on the season. All 3 games are scheduled to be aired on ESPN+.
BELMONT 10, MIDDLE TENNESSEE 7
Four different Bruins had 2 hits each to lead Belmont to a 10-7 win over Middle Tennessee on Tuesday. Sam Kirkpatrick went 2-for-4 for the Bruins, lifting his season batting average to .455. Mason Landers, Brodey Heaton, and Blake Barton also had 2 hits each for Belmont, which broke open a 4-4 game in the 7th inning with a 5-run outburst. Landers’ 3-run homer and a 2-run double by Drew Lowry were the big hits in the game-deciding inning. Will Pryor worked 2 1/3 innings to get the win, his first of the season.
Belmont improved to 3-6 with the victory. The Bruins host Kansas for 3 games this weekend in Nashville. The Jayhawks are 5-2 on the season and already took 2 of 3 from Valley opponent Valparaiso on opening weekend.
KENT STATE 6, MURRAY STATE 4
Despite homers from Dustin Mercer and Carson Garner, Murray State fell Tuesday to the Golden Flashes. DH Aidan Longwell went 4-for-5 for Kent State, with a triple, run, and 2 RBIs. With the game tied at 4 in the 9th, the Golden Flashes scored twice in the top of the inning to take the lead for good. Longwell’s triple brought in the go-ahead run, and he later scored an insurance run Josh Johnson’s single.
Murray State fell to 2-6 on the season with the loss. The teams will meet again tomorrow, with first pitch set for 1 p.m. Eastern on ESPN+.
SAINT LOUIS 11, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 3
The Billikens scored 3 in the 1st inning to take the lead and then added 6 more in the 6th inning to put the game away in an 11-3 rout over SIU. SIU RF Nathan Bandy had 3 hits to lead the Salukis, Bandy is now hitting .455 on the season for the Salukis. SIU used 8 pitchers in the loss, and SLU batters drew 8 walks to go along with 11 hits.
SIU is 3-6 on the season. The Salukis host Ohio University for 3 games this weekend. The Bobcats are 2-5 so far in 2023.
Life in the Valley 
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