Box Score (MARYVILLE, Mo.) – The second-ranked Central Missouri Mules got a solid outing from righthander Kurtis Schuyler and blanked NW Missouri State 5-0 in the first game of a four-game set at Bearcat Field on Friday.
      The Mules (13-1, 8-1 MIAA) plated two runs in the third inning to grab the lead. Bret Schwartz roped an RBI double to get UCM on the board and Jordan Coons added an RBI single.
      Central Missouri tallied two more in the sixth to make it 4-0. Schwartz drew a bases loaded walk and Jon Cotter scored on a wild pitch. UCM made it 5-0 in the eighth on a John Oropeza sacrifice fly.
      That was more than enough for Schuyler (3-0) who scattered three hits in six innings, while striking out a career-high 10.
      Chris Green (2-2) took the loss for NWMSU (5-12, 4-5 MIAA) after giving up four runs on six hits in 5.1 innings pitched.
      The series continues on Saturday with a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.