Box Score 1 | Box Score 2  | Season Stats

HAYS, Kan. -- The ninth-ranked Central Missouri Mules baseball team rolled to a doubleheader sweep of Fort Hays State winning game one 16-4 and game two 17-7 at Larks Park on Saturday afternoon. The Mules pounded out a combined 31 hits in the sweep that moved them to 5-1 overall and 2-0 in MIAA play.

In the opener the Mules jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a two-run single from Brad Wilson. UCM added seven more runs in the third to open a 9-0 lead. The Mules batted around in the inning, highlighted by a two-run home run to center by Kevin Gratza.

Central Missouri tacked on four more runs in the fourth to build a 13-0 lead when John Oropeza belted a grand slam to center field. The Tigers scored three runs in the bottom of the inning to get on the board and make it 13-3.

UCM added three more runs in the top of the seventh to extend the lead to 16-3. Kyle Grieshaber had a sacrifice fly and Barrett Noirfalise added a two-RBI double to the gap in right center.

FHSU plated one run in the bottom of the inning, but the Mules took the 16-4 win.

Kurtis Schuyler (1-1) earned the win for UCM allowing four runs on four hits in six innings of work. He walked one and struck out five. Blake Kolons pitched a perfect seventh inning in relief.

Alex Ellison (0-1) took the loss for Fort Hays State after allowing nine runs on nine hits in 2.2 innings.

The Mules jumped on top quickly in the nightcap as well when Brad Wilson hit a two-run homer to right field to give UCM a 2-0 lead. The Tigers responded with a single run in the bottom of the inning on a Kelton Rule solo home run.

UCM adde two more runs in the second inning to make it 4-1. Tucker Cross had an RBI double to plate Gratza and he later scored on a Trevor Jones single.

The Tigers got one run in the third on an RBI groundout from Ryan Busboom and three more in the fourth to take a 5-4 lead.

The lead was short-lived, however, as UCM scored five times in the fifth and three more in the sixth to take a 12-6 lead. The Tigers scored once in the seventh to pull within 12-7, but the Mules added a single run in the eighth on a Samuel Domingue RBI fielder's choice and four more in the ninth for the 17-7 win. Kyle Grieshaber hit a solo home run, his third of the season to start the scoring. Seth Wheeler had a two-run double and later scored on a fielding error to close out the scoring for UCM.

Jake Heissler (2-0) earned the win in relief for UCM. He allowed two runs on four hits in 5.1 innings. He didn't walk a batter and struck out nine. Starter Chris Fitzpatrick allowed five runs, four earned, on eight hits in 3.1 innings.

Luke McKay (0-1) took the loss for the Tigers after giving up three runs on one hit in 1.1 innings of relief. He walked four and struck out one.

Oropeza finished the day 3-for-8 with a home run, five runs scored and five RBI. Wilson was 6-for-10 with a double, home run, six runs scored and five driven in.

The series wraps up on Sunday afternoon with a single game beginning at 1 p.m. at Larks Park.