SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – No. 13 Missouri State clinched the series and the 2017 Missouri Valley Conference Regular Season Championship Saturday afternoon after defeating Indiana State, 4-1, at Hammons Field in Springfield.
 
A pitcher's duel through the first four innings of play, it wasn't until the fifth inning that either team was able to get the offense going, as the Sycamores drew first blood. After Tony Rosselli drew a leadoff walk before stealing second and moving to third on a wild pitch. That was when senior third baseman Cody Gardner drove Rosselli in on a long sac fly to left.
 
Missouri State answered right back in the fifth after being held at bay in the first four innings by Sycamore right-hander Tyler Ward. Logan Geha led off the fifth for MSU with a walk before being moved over on a sac bunt. He would later come around to score on Hunter Steinmetz' single to center.
 
Riding a 19-game winning streak coming into the game in Missouri Valley Conference play, the Bears went ahead for good thanks to Geha's first home run of the season on a two-run shot to left. The Bears would add an insurance run in the eighth off a wild pitch.
 
The Sycamores struggled at the plate on the day, only recording one hit; a Tyler Friis infield single to lead off the fourth inning. Prior to Friis' hit, MSU starting pitcher Dylan Coleman faced the minimum after through three innings. Coleman (7-2) finished his outing with seven complete innings, allowing just one hit and one run while striking out eight Sycamore batters.
 
Ward fell to 4-3 on the season after going five and two third innings and giving up three runs. The Santa Claus, Indiana native struck out six batters in the start. Ethan Larrison tossed the remaining two and a third innings, allowing just a run while retiring three on strikes.
 
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