Two Local Players Meet at Missouri Valley Conference Baseball Tourney

Leading up to the NCAA Baseball Championship, Missouri State University competed in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament and there were two area baseball players competing in the tourney.

Mason Hull, an Effingham High School graduate, plays for Missouri State while Jordan Bloemer, a North Clay (Louisville) High School graduate, plays for Southern Illinois University-Carbondale and the pair met in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.

Missouri State opened the tourney with a 9-4 win over Illinois State. Hull played second base but didn't have a hit in four at-bats.

But, Hull came back against No. 1 Southern Illinois as Missouri State won 5-1 and Hull knocked out two home runs and drove in four for the winners.

Southern Illinois defeated Indiana State, 8-2 while Missouri State downed Bradley, 19-3. Hull had a single in the contest.

Southern Illinois then defeated Dallas Baptist University 7-5 in loser bracket finals Saturday, May 28 and had to face Evansville that evening to advance to the championship Sunday.

Bloemer completed eight innings on the mound for the Salukis in the 8-5 win over Evansville, the longest start of his college career. He gave up five hits, four earned runs, walked two and struck out three in 7 2/3 innings.

Bloemer improved his pitching record to 3-1.

That put Southern Illinois into the Sunday finals against Missouri State. SIU-C defeated Missouri State 9-6 in the opener. Hull had a single and scored a run.

But Southern Illinois couldn't finish it as Missouri State came back to win its fifth Valley baseball tourney title with a 13-3 victory. Hull had a single, home run and two RBI for the winners. The victory was the fifth MVC tournament title.

Missouri State (30-27) now advances to its 12th NCAA Tournament in Division I. The No. 4 squad will face No. 1 Oklahoma State.

Mason Hull

Jordan Bloemer