KENNESAW, Ga. (Interstat) — Brant Kragel drove in four runs with a home run and a double, leading Missouri State to a 6-4 victory over Kennesaw State on Thursday night in a Conference USA game at Fred Stillwell Stadium.

The Bears improved to 33-18 overall, while the Owls fell to 25-28.

Missouri State struck first in the top of the first inning when Bryce Cermenelli singled up the middle to drive in a run. The Bears added two more in the second when Kragel crushed a home run to right center, scoring Caden Bogenpohl and giving Missouri State a 3-0 lead.

Kennesaw State starter Harry Cain settled in after that, allowing only two earned runs on three hits over 5 1-3 innings while striking out four. But the Bears padded their lead in the fourth when Carter Bergman led off with a home run to center field, making it 4-0.

The Owls answered in the bottom of the fourth. Grayson McCollum singled and scored on a single by Shamaar McDuffie. Chris Cole then singled to right, driving in McDuffie and cutting the deficit to 4-2. Missouri State replaced starting pitcher Jason Schaaf with Max Knight, who struck out Cooper Williams to end the inning.

Knight worked 3 2-3 innings of scoreless relief, allowing no hits while striking out four. The Bears extended the lead in the eighth. Curry Sutherland led off with a solo home run to left field. After a walk and a single, Kragel doubled down the right-field line, driving in two more runs for a 6-2 advantage.

Kennesaw State mounted a rally in the bottom of the eighth. Trenton Lyons walked and scored on a two-run homer by Jackson Chirello, trimming the lead to 6-4. Curry Sutherland moved from the outfield to the mound for Missouri State and escaped further damage, striking out Grayson McCollum and Aaron Posey to end the inning.

Sutherland worked 1 2-3 hitless innings with four strikeouts to earn the save.

The Owls threatened in the ninth. Chris Cole and Cooper Williams singled, but Sutherland induced a fielder’s choice and then struck out Charlie Jones to end the game.

Kragel finished 2 for 4 with four RBIs. Bergman went 1 for 3 with a home run. For Kennesaw State, Chirello was 2 for 4 with a home run and two RBIs. The Owls outhit the Bears 11-7 but left 10 runners on base.

Missouri State’s victory gave them a series win after dropping the opener 12-6 on Saturday. The Bears had won the previous two games of the four-game set, taking both ends of a doubleheader on Thursday and Friday by scores of 5-3.

Kragel’s performance continued a productive stretch. He went 2 for 4 in the May 16 loss to Kennesaw State and was 2 for 4 in a win over New Mexico State on May 10.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Missouri State 7, Kennesaw State 6, and Interstat’s ELO system gave Missouri State a 52.60 percent probability to win.