Springfield, Mo. ? Kansas University committed four errors and surrendered 18 hits in an 18-11 nonconference baseball loss to No. 16-ranked Missouri State on Wednesday.
The Bears’ Spencer Johnson hit three home runs — including a grand slam — and became the second player this season to hit three homers in a game against the Jayhawks (11-16).
“He was really special tonight,” KU coach Ritch Price said. “All three home runs he hit, he smoked — he didn’t get any cheap ones.”
The teams combined for 33 hits — 16 for extra bases.
Blake Goldsberry (0-4) took the loss after allowing 10 runs — just four earned — off seven hits over three innings.
“Obviously, we hurt ourselves with the poor defense that we played, and it set the table for a lot of those runs,” Price said.
Missouri State improved to 24-5.
Kansas will host TCU in a three-game Big 12 set Friday through Sunday.
Kansas 301 002 230 — 11 15 4
Missouri State 610 510 23x — 18 18 1
W — Jake Fromson, 4-0. L -Blake Goldsberry, 0-4.
2B — Devin Foyle, Michael Tinsley 2, Colby Wright, Marcus Wheeler, Joe Moroney, Ryan Pidhaichuk, KU; Hunter Steinmetz, Justin Paulsen 2, Blake Graham, Jeremy Eierman, MSU. HR — Jake Burger, Spencer Johnson 3, MSU.
Kansas highlights — Tinsley 3-for-4, 3 R, RBI; Colby Wright 2-for-5, 3 RBIs; Wheeler 2-for-3, RBI; Pidhaichuk 2-for-5, R, RBI; Tanner Gragg 2-for-5.