Box Score 1 | Box Score 2  | Season Stats | Photos

WARRENSBURG, Mo. -- The Central Missouri Mules snapped their two-game losing skid by sweeping a doubleheader from Missouri Southern on Friday at Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field. The Mules held off the Lions 3-2 in the opener then registered a 6-3 win in the nightcap.

The Mules (16-9, 13-5 MIAA) jumped on top 2-0 in the third inning of game one when Kevin Gratza belted his first home run of the season. 

The Lions (14-10, 9-9 MIAA) got a run back in the top of the fourth on Brandon Weller's RBI single to right. UCM got the run back in the bottom of the inning on Dusty Maas' RBI double to center field to take a 3-1 lead.

Missouri Southern plated a single run in the sixth on Logan Moon's triple to right center field to pull within 3-2, but Zach Davis came on in relief recording the final five outs to close the door and earn his third save of the season.

Ricky Rivera (5-0) earned the win for UCM after giving up two runs on four hits in 5.1 innings. He walked one and struck out five.

Ryan Bates (2-2) took the loss for MSSU after giving up three runs on eight hits in six innings.

The Lions scored an unearned run in the first inning of game two to take an early lead, but the mules came back with a run of their own in the bottom half to tie the game.

Evin Natick scored on an error in the second inning to put the Lions back in front 2-1, but Maas' infield single RBI and Jake Alexander's RBI sac bunt put UCM back in front 3-2.

The Mules added two more runs in the third inning to take a 5-2 lead. Brad Wilson scored on a throwing error and Brad Jelinek added an RBI sac bunt in the frame.

UCM added a single run in the fifth inning when Maas was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to extend the lead to 6-2.

Dusty Harper's solo home run in the sixth pulled the Lions within 6-3, but they would get no closer.

Kyle Gehrs (3-2) earned the win for UCM tossing 5.1 innings and allowing three runs, two earned, on six hits. Grant Gavin pitched two innings of two-hit relief and AJ Walkenhorst recorded the final five outs to earn his second save of the season.

Payton Walker (4-2) took the loss for Missouri Southern after giving up five runs, three earned, on eight hits in three innings.

Gratza ended up with four hits on the day, while Alexander and Dylan Hanson both had three.

The series wraps up on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m. Both games can be heard live on 1450 KOKO and warrensburgradio.com with Bob Jackson on the call.