FAYETTEVILLE — Missouri State bounced back from a blowout loss to force a winner-take-all game at the NCAA super regional.
The Bears beat Arkansas 3-1 Saturday to even the best-of-three game series at Baum Stadium. The teams will play a decisive Game 3 Sunday at 2 p.m. with the winner advancing to the College World Series.
Game Sketch
Line Score: Missouri State 3-7-1; Arkansas 1-1-0
Records: Missouri State 49-11; Arkansas 39-23
WP: Matt Hall (12-2)
LP: Keaton McKinney (6-2)
Turning Point: Leading 3-1, Missouri State pitcher Matt Hall recorded an out with two runners on base to end the bottom of the seventh inning.
Notable: Hall set the Missouri Valley Conference record for strikeouts in a season.
Attendance: 12,167 (Baum Stadium record)
Missouri State left-hander Matt Hall was dominant, striking out eight batters in a complete game one-hitter. The junior raised his NCAA-leading strikeout count to 171 for the season.
Hall, who threw 125 pitches, faced the minimum number of batters through six innings and didn't allow a hit after the Razorbacks' second at-bat. He had retired 16 consecutive hitters until Joe Serrano drew a leadoff walk in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Serrano scored on an error by Missouri State shortstop Joey Hawkins to pull the Razorbacks within 3-1, but Arkansas couldn't capitalize on two more base runners in the inning, stranding them on the corners when Rick Nomura grounded out.
Brett McAfee worked a leadoff walk for the Razorbacks in the eighth inning, but Michael Bernal hit into a double play to kill the threat. Serrano walked again to leadoff the ninth inning, but was forced out on a fielder's choice by Bobby Wernes.
Hall got Andrew Benintendi to pop-up for the second out of the inning and struck out Tyler Spoon to end the game.
Missouri State chased Arkansas starter Keaton McKinney after just 1 1/3 innings. The Bears took the lead on Blake Graham's RBI single in the second inning and added two more in the third inning on an RBI hit by Spencer Johnson and a Graham fielder's choice.
Jackson Lowery pitched 6 2/3 innings of relief for Arkansas, allowing two runs. Lowery struck out six, allowed three hits and walked four batters.
Zach Jackson worked around a pair of base runners in the top of the ninth inning. Missouri State put two runners on with two outs, but pinch-runner Alex Jefferson was caught stealing to end the inning.