Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 (HAYS, Kan.) – The No. 1-ranked Central Missouri Mules were swept in an MIAA doubleheader 6-1 and 8-7 by Fort Hays State on Saturday afternoon at Larks Park. The Mules are now 0-3 since taking over the top spot in the rankings earlier this week and have lost three in a row for the first time since 2009.
      The Tigers (8-10, 6-7 MIAA) got on the board early in game one with a single run in the first and another run in the second to take a 2-0 lead.
      Fort Hays State added to the lead with two runs in third on a home run by Mace Krol and added two more runs in the fifth inning on a JC Ochoa single to make it 6-0.
      Central Missouri (16-4, 11-3 MIAA) finally got on the board in the top of the seventh on an RBI fielder's choice by Jordan Coons but that was all the Mules would get in the 6-1 loss.
      Kurtis Schuyler (3-1) suffered his first loss of the season after giving up six runs on 11 hits in 4.2 innings pitched.
      Shawn Lewick (2-1) was the winner for Fort Hays State after allowing one run on seven hits with five walks and seven K's in a complete game effort.
      The Mules got on the board first in game two with a single run in the second inning when Gabe Thibodeau drew a bases loaded walk, but UCM tallied just the one run and left the bags packed.
      Central Missouri added three runs in the fourth inning to extend the lead to 4-0. Ben Cox and Will Mulligan each drew bases loaded walks to force in runs and John Oropeza had an infield single to plate another run. Kevin Gratza scored on a balk in the fifth inning to give the Mules a 5-0 lead.
      The Tigers started their rally in the bottom of the fifth with three runs and plated another run in the seventh to pull within 5-4.
      UCM plated two runs in the eighth to take a 7-4 lead. Gratza had an RBI double and later scored on a single by Cox. The lead didn't last long, however, as FHSU plated three runs in the bottom half to tie the game at 7. The Mules committed two errors in the inning to help the Tiger cause.
      After the Mules failed to score in the top of the ninth, Fort Hays State plated one run in the bottom half for the walk-off win.
      Travis Unthank (1-0) took the loss for the Mules after allowing two runs on three hits in 1.1 innings of relief. Starter Lee Stoppelman was cruising along before running into trouble in the fifth. He allowed three runs on six hits while striking out eight in 4.2 innings.
      Brett Macari (2-0) earned the win for Fort Hays State after pitching a perfect ninth inning in relief. Starter Andy Lewton allowed five runs on six hits with eight walks in 4.2 innings.
      The Mules look to snap their three-game losing streak on Sunday when the series concludes with a doubleheader at 12 p.m.