Box Score 1 | Box Score 2  | Season Stats

WARRENSBURG, Mo. -- The 21st-ranked Central Missouri Mules opened their four-game MIAA series with Missouri Western by splitting a doubleheader on Friday afternoon at Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field. The Griffons won the opener 8-2 before UCM rallied for a 14-6 win in the nightcap.

The Griffons (24-15, 20-12 MIAA) jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning of game one. David Chew's three-run home run was the big blow in the inning. The Mules (30-13, 27-7 MIAA) scored two in the bottom half on RBI from Tony Sandifer and Kevin Gratza.

Missouri Western plated a single run in the third on Chew's double to right field and another in the fourth on Trevor LaHonta's RBI single to make it 6-2. MWSU tacked on two more in the sixth for the 8-2 lead.

Grant Woods (4-2) earned the win for the Griffons allowing just one earned run on three hits. Ricky Rivera (6-1) suffered his first loss of the season after giving up six runs on seven hits in three innings pitched.

Sandifer led off the second inning of game two with a home run to give UCM an early 1-0 lead. The Griffons tied the game, however, in the third on Jake Schrader's RBI single. They then went in front in the fourth on LaHonta's RBI groundout.

The Mules regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth, scoring three runs. Sandifer scored on a wild pitch to tie the game then Gratza and Dylan Hanson scored on an error to put UCM in front 4-2. The Mules broke the game wide open with a six-run fifth inning. Jake Alexander had a sacrifice fly to plate the first run and Gratza added an RBI single. Sandifer scored another run on a wild pitch and Barrett Noirfalise drew a bases loaded walk to drive in another run. Dusty Maas added a two-run single to cap the inning.

The Griffons plated four runs in the eighth on Mitch Thorman's grand slam to pull within 10-6, but Sandifer matched the grand slam with one of his own in the bottom of the inning to give UCM a 14-6 advantage.

Kyle Gehrs (6-3) earned the win for the Mules after allowing two runs on four hits in five innings of work. Zach Davis came on to record the final four outs of the game.

Josh Lansangan (5-3) took the loss for Missouri Western after giving up four runs on three hits in 3.1 innings pitched.

Sandifer finished the game 3-for-4 with five RBI and four runs scored.

With the win in game two, UCM clinched at least a top four seed in the MIAA Tournament and the Mules are assured of hosting a first round series May 1-3.

The series wraps up on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. The 1994 Mules National Championship team will be honored in a pregame ceremony to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their championship.