Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

WARRENSBURG, Mo. -- After celebrating the careers of nine seniors, the sixth-ranked Mules defeated the Washburn Ichabods on Saturday in both games of an MIAA doubleheader, 8-2 in game one, followed by a 6-0 shutout in game two.

The Mules (33-7, 26-4 MIAA) allowed just nine hits and two walks over both games at Crane Stadium-Tompkins Field in Warrensburg, Mo., thanks to a pair of strong pitching performances from Kurtis Schuyler and Lee Stoppelman. Schuyler threw a complete game in the seven-inning opener to go 6-2 on the year, while Stoppelman earned his sixth victory of the season in the second game, throwing 7 1/3 innings while giving up only four hits and striking out seven.

After falling behind 1-0 in the first inning of game one, the Mules responded with a pair of runs on a balk and an error. UCM went on to score four more in the second, with a two-run double from Bret Schwartz  the key blow in the inning. Central Missouri went on to score one in the third and one in the sixth to take the victory.

The Mules' offense was a little quieter in the early portions of game two, as the first UCM hit didn't come until a one-out single from Brad Wilson in the fourth inning. Kyle Grieshaber provided the first two runs for the Mules with a double to left center in the fourth. Ben Cox extended the lead in the sixth inning, hitting his first home run of the year to right field, making it a 3-0 UCM lead. The Mules put together three more runs in the seventh to put away game two.

Cox had one of the better hitting performances of the day, going a combined 3-for-5 with a homer, two RBI and three runs. Chase Graskewicz had a 3-for-3 performance in game two, recording an RBI and a run scored.

The Mules and Ichabods finish their four-game series Sunday afternoon, with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.