Box Score WARRENSBURG, Mo. – The Central Missouri Mules kept their season alive with a 10-5 win over Texas A&M-Kingsville on Friday morning at Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field. The Mules advance to play Southern Arkansas in another elimination game on Saturday at 3 p.m.

The Javelinas (31-18) struck first with a pair of runs in the first inning on a Jake Mendiola two-run single. The Mules (45-8) took the lead in the second with three runs. Jon Cotter (Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan) had a two-run single to tie the game and Bret Schwartz (Blue Springs, Mo./Blue Springs HS) added an RBI single to give UCM the lead.

Central Missouri added a pair of runs in the fifth to make it 5-2. Jordan Coons (Jefferson City, Mo./Jefferson City HS) scored on a throwing error for the first run and Chase Graskewicz (Hudson, Wis./Hudson HS) added a sacrifice fly to make it a three-run lead.

The Mules plated a single run in the sixth on a Brad Wilson (Jefferson City, Mo./Helias HS) RBI single to extend the lead to 6-2. UCM added two more in the eighth on a Ben Cox (Warrensburg, Mo./Warrensburg HS) single to take an 8-2 advantage.

The Javelinas got a single run back in the bottom of the inning on Mendiola's third RBI of the day to make it 8-3. The Mules plated two more runs in the top of the ninth when John Oropeza (Kansas City, Kan./Bishop Ward HS) singled home Schwartz and Coons scored on a throwing error at the end of the play.

Texas A&M-Kingsville pushed two runs across in the bottom of the inning, but it wasn't enough as the Mules took the game 10-5 to extend their season at least one more game.

Schwartz, Coons, Oropeza, Wilson, Cox and Cotter all had two hits apiece, while Cox and Cotter each drove in two. Coons scored four runs in the game.

Lee Stoppelman (10-0) (Pleasant Hill, Mo./Pleasant Hill HS) earned the win on the mound for UCM. He allowed three runs on five hits in 7.1 innings. He struck out seven and walked five for the game. Dane Krone (Savoy, Ill./St. Thomas More HS) tossed the final 1.2 innings allowing two runs on five hits.

Adam Aspaas (7-4) suffered the loss for the Javelinas after giving up five runs, two earned, on six hits in 4.0 innings.

The Mules will play Southern Arkansas (37-16) in an elimination game at 3 p.m. on Saturday. The Muleriders of SAU lost to St. Mary's 5-2 in the winner's bracket semifinals on Friday night. The Mules are 4-5 all-time against Southern Arkansas.