Box Score (MARYVILLE, Mo.) – The second-ranked Central Missouri Mules completed a four-game sweep of Northwest Missouri State with an 8-6 win in the series finale on Sunday afternoon at Bearcat Field. The Mules have now won 12 straight games.
            Central Missouri (16-1, 11-1 MIAA) fell behind 2-0 in the first inning when Eric Swain belted a two-run home run for the Bearcats (5-15, 4-8 MIAA). The Mules answered in the top of the second with two runs of their own to tie the game. Albert Selanders led off the inning with a home run, his second of the year, and Gabe Thibodeau singled home Jon Cotter to knot the score.
            UCM grabbed the lead for good in the top of the third with two more runs to make it 4-2. Kevin Gratza put the Mules in front with a two-run single to center. The Mules tacked on four more runs in the fourth inning to make it an 8-2 ball game. Bret Schwartz had an RBI single to get things started and John Oropeza smacked a three-run shot to left, his second of the year, to give UCM a six-run cushion.
            The Bearcats wouldn't quit and began to chip away at the lead. NWMSU scored single runs in the fifth, sixth, seventh and ninth innings to make it 8-6, but the potential game-tying run was stranded on second as Jordan Coons came on to record his second straight save and third of the season.
            Mules' starter Chris Fitzpatrick (4-0) earned the win after allowing three runs on five hits in five innings of work.
            Oropeza, Schwartz, and Thibodeau all finished with two hits each while Oropeza drove in three runs and Gratza added a pair of RBI.
            Carson Smith (0-2) took the loss for NW Missouri State after giving up five runs on seven hits in 3.2 innings pitched.
            The Mules return to action on Wednesday when they host Missouri-St. Louis in a single nine-inning non-conference matchup at Crane Stadium. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. The game will be broadcast on 1450 KOKO and 98.5 The Bar as well as warrensburgradio.com.