Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 (HAYS, Kan.) – The top-ranked Central Missouri Mules snapped a three-game skid with a 13-5 win in game one of an MIAA doubleheader on Sunday afternoon at Larks Park, but Fort Hays State rallied to take the nightcap 14-6 and earn a split in the doubleheader. The Tigers took three out of four from the Mules giving UCM its first series loss since March of 2009.
            Fort Hays State (9-11, 7-8 MIAA) took an early 1-0 lead in game one on a first-inning RBI single from JC Ochoa. The Mules (17-5, 12-4 MIAA) came right back with four runs in the second to grab the lead for good. Ben Cox singled home Albert Selanders to tie the game at 1-1 and Bret Schwartz had an RBI fielder's choice to give the Mules the lead. Jordan Coons added an RBI single that also plated Schwartz when the centerfielder misplayed the ball.
            Central Missouri added a single run in the third when Cox drove in Selanders with another RBI single. The Tigers got to within 5-4 with three runs in the bottom of the inning. Ochoa had an RBI double in the frame as did Brandon Hoefler for FHSU.
            The Mules answered with three runs of their own in the top of the fourth inning. Kevin Gratza drove in a pair with a bunt and Selanders belted a solo home run, his third of the season, to give UCM an 8-4 lead. Central Missouri broke the game open with four more runs in the fifth. Schwartz plated two runs with a bases loaded single, Coons had an RBI groundout and Gratza added his third RBI of the game with a single to center.
            UCM tacked on another run in the sixth to make it 13-4 when Gabe Thibodeau singled home Cox. The Tigers plated a single run in the seventh, but the Mules snapped their three-game skid with the 13-5 win.
            Cox, Selanders, and Schwartz each finished 4-for-5 with three runs scored as the Mules out-hit Fort Hays State 19-9 in the game. Gratza and Schwartz each drove in three runs as well.
            Dane Krone (3-0) earned the win in relief after allowing just two hits in 1.1 innings. Ethan Gibbons picked up his first save of the season tossing 3.0 innings of relief and giving up one run on two hits.
            The Mules jumped out to an early lead in game two. Coons had an RBI groundout and John Oropeza belted a solo homer in the first inning to give the Mules a 2-0 lead.
            UCM added two more runs in the second to go in front 4-0. Schwartz had a two-out two-run single that scored Thibodeau and Jon Cotter.
            Things went south from there though, as the Tigers rallied in the bottom half with three runs to cut the Mule lead to one and then erupted for six runs in the third to grab a 9-4 lead. Eleven Tiger batters came to the plate in the third as FHSU regained the lead for good. Fort Hays State then added a single run in the fourth to make it 10-4.
            The Mules got an RBI single from Cotter in the fifth to make it 10-5, but FHSU came right back with a run in the sixth to make it 11-5. UCM made it 11-6 on an RBI groundout by Oropeza in the eighth, but the Tigers plated three more runs in the bottom of the inning for the 14-6 win.
            Kyle Jackson (2-1) took the loss for the Mules after surrendering five runs on six hits in just 2.0 innings. Five other Mule pitchers made appearances in the game with each pitcher giving up at least one run.
            Jesse Hart (1-0) earned the win in relief for FHSU allowing two runs on three hits in five innings of relief work.
            The Mules stranded 12 runners on base during the game and 49 total for the four-game series.
            UCM is back in action on Tuesday afternoon in Bolivar, Mo. The Mules will take on Southwest Baptist in an MIAA doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m.