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WARRENSBURG, Mo. -- The 22nd-ranked Central Missouri Mules fell behind early and couldn't recover in a lopsided 14-2 non-conference loss to Emporia State on Tuesday night at Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field. The Hornets scored runs in each of the first five innings to run away from the Mules.

The Hornets (21-14) scored one run in the first on a wild pitch and plated four more in the second, including a Zach Stucky two-run home run to open a 5-0 lead. The lead grew to 6-0 with a Price Jacobs solo home run.

The Mules (26-11) got on the board in the third to make it 6-1. Trevor Jones lead off the inning with a triple and scored on Jake Alexander's groundout.

Emporia State broke the game wide open with six runs in the fourth to make it 12-1. UCM came back with one run in the bottom of the inning on a Brad Jelinek sac fly, but the Hornets scored two more in the fifth for the 14-2 lead.

Both teams had three errors in the field and ESU out-hit the Mules 9-7.

Matt Ritchie (0-1) took the loss for Central Missouri after giving up five runs, only two earned, on three hits in 1.2 innings. Dylan McEwin (2-0) took the win for Emporia State tossing 2.0 innings of relief, allowing one run on two hits with two strikeouts.

The Mules are back in action this weekend with a four-game series at Northwest Missouri beginning on Friday.