Box Score (ARKADELPHIA, Ark.) – The third-ranked Central Missouri Mules baseball team completed a perfect season-opening road trip with a 4-3 win over Henderson State at Clyde Berry Field on Sunday afternoon. The win moves UCM to 4-0 on the season.
            Central Missouri (4-0) fell behind 1-0 on a first inning RBI double by the Reddies (6-4). The Mules answered with a run of their own in the third inning when Albert Selanders led off with a home run to left field. It was the first run that HSU starter Brittain Diamond (2-1) had given up in 15 innings pitched this season.
            UCM took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fifth when Brad Wilson tripled to lead off and scored one batter later when Jon Cotter singled him home. The Reddies got that run back in the bottom of the inning to tie the game 2-2 on an RBI groundout from Zac Zdanowicz.
            The Mules plated two runs in the top of the seventh to regain the lead 4-2. John Oropeza had an infield single that scored a pair. Kevin Gratza scored from third on the play and Bret Schwartz came around from second on a throwing error by the HSU second baseman.
            The Reddies plated one run in the bottom of the frame when an error in the outfield allowed Taylor Coleman to score from first, but the Mules shut the door after that. The Mules retired the Reddies in order in the eighth and ninth innings to secure the win.
            Selanders finished the day 3-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI, while Gabe Thibodeau had a pair of hits giving him eight in the first four games.
            Travis Unthank (1-0) earned the win in relief allowing one unearned run on one hit in three innings out of the bullpen. UCM starter Aaron Baker allowed two runs on three hits with six strikeouts in five innings of work. Dane Krone worked a perfect sixth inning out of the pen for the Mules as well.
            Central Missouri returns home next weekend to open MIAA play. The Mules will host Missouri Western in a four-game series next Friday through Sunday. The series gets underway with a single nine-inning game on Friday at 2 p.m. The teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 p.m. and the series wraps up with another single game on Sunday at 1 p.m.