BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Missouri State baseball team produced big innings in the first, seventh and eighth innings on its way to a 20-8, eight-inning win over Samford in the final game of a three-game series Sunday afternoon at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
 
With the loss, Samford falls to 13-12 on the season. Missouri State improves to 14-10 with the win.
 
For Samford at the plate, Will David went 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBI. Brody Westbrooks (2-2) pitched 2.1 innings, giving up four runs on five hits to take the loss on the mound.
 
Missouri State was led by Cam Cratic, going 4-for-5 with two home runs and three RBI. Spencer Nivens, Drake Baldwin, Dakota Kotowski and Grant Wood also homered for the Bears. Forrest Barnes (4-1) earned the win for MSU, tossing 4.1 innings, allowing two runs on four hits in 4.1 innings of work.
 
Missouri State plated six runs in the top of the first inning, but Samford answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning to cut the lead to 6-3. MSU then added a run in the second inning and another in the third to push its lead to 8-3. The Bulldogs then came back with three runs in the third inning and two more in the fourth to knot the score at 8-8.
 
The teams entered the seventh inning still tied at 8-8. Missouri State took control of the game with eight runs in the top of the seventh inning to take a 16-8 lead. The Bears then added four runs in then eighth inning to make the final score 20-8.
 
Samford is scheduled to play at Alabama on Tuesday, April 5. The game is set for a 6 p.m. start from Tuscaloosa, Ala.
 
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