Box Score 1 | Box Score 2  | Season Stats

KEARNEY, Neb. -- The Central Missouri Mules won the opening game of their MIAA doubleheader 8-1 over Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday, but suffered a 20-3 defeat in game two.

The Mules (14-8, 11-4 MIAA) scored one unearned run in the first to grab a 1-0 lead. UCM tacked on four more runs in the third to grab a 5-0 lead. Tony Sandifer had an RBI single to get things started. Brad Wilson scored on a throwing error and Matt Molbury singled home two runs.

Central Missouri added another run in the fourth when Dusty Maas scored on a passed ball to make it 6-0. UCM scored two more in the seventh on a Barrett Noirfalise RBI single and Brad Jelinek's RBI double to make it 8-0.

The Lopers (15-8, 8-7 MIAA) scored one time in the bottom of the seventh on Jayke Brock's RBI single, but the Mules took the 8-1 win in the opener.

Ricky Rivera (4-1) earned the win for UCM tossing a complete-game four-hitter. He gave up the one run, while striking out four.

Dalton Cowen (3-2) took the loss for UNK after giving up six runs, only one earned, on six hits in six innings of work.

Game two was all Nebraska-Kearney. The Mules grabbed an early 1-0 lead on Noirfalise's RBI single, but the Lopers scored 10 times in the bottom of the first to seize control. They chased starter Kyle Gehrs (2-2) after just a third of an inning giving up eight runs on five hits.

They added another run in the second on Brent Kirsch's sac fly to make it 11-1. The Mules got two runs back in the third. Jake Alexander had an RBI single and Sandifer added another to make it 11-3.

UNK tacked on two runs in the bottom of the third to make it 13-3. They added two more runs in the fourth and five more runs in the fifth to completely blow the game open and roll to the 20-3 win. UNK had 21 hits in the second game.

Five different Mule pitchers threw in the game and all gave up at least two runs. The 20-3 loss is the worst loss under head coach Tom Myers and the worst defeat since a 23-6 loss at Central Oklahoma on February 25, 2000.

Logan Willard (3-0)  picked up the win for UNK after giving up three runs on eight hits in five innings. Ross Mortensen tossed two innings of two-hit relief.

The series wraps up on Sunday with a single nine-inning game. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. at Memorial Field in Kearney.