Freshman delivers as Bears end skid

Buy PhotoAlready saddled with a three-game losing streak and their loud offense silenced in the last week, Missouri State’s baseball team could have been in a rough spot Thursday night at Hammons Field.

Facing a Central Michigan team that came in with a 5-20 record and giving up nearly eight runs per game in their last dozen outings, the Bears were stuck in a scoreless pitcher’s duel through seven innings.

That’s when freshman Jordan Hovey struck.

Justin Paulsen singled to lead off the eighth, then pinch-runner Landan Ruff went to second on a groundup. Hovey came on as a pinch-hitter and laced a ground ball down the right-field line, driving in the game’s first run with a triple into the…