Box Score  | Season Stats | Photos

WARRENSBURG, Mo. -- Miscues proved costly for the 12th-ranked Mules Baseball team as they fell 6-5 in 11 innings to Northeastern State in the first game of the MIAA Tournament best of three opening round series at Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field. Three UCM errors led to three unearned RiverHawk runs.

The Mules (35-15) jumped out to a 3-0 lead with three unearned runs of their own in the third inning. Trevor Jones singled home the first run of the game before a Jake Alexander sacrifice fly and Brad Wilson single added to the lead.

The lead stood until the sixth when Northeastern State (25-26) plated four runs to take the lead. Cody Robinson led off the inning with a double and scored on David Weber's home run to left field to make it 3-2. Kyle Singleton made it back-to-back homers with a shot to center field to tie the game and Tyler Wilkins scored when UCM misplayed a ball in the outfield to give NSU a 4-3 advantage.

The Mules tied the game in the bottom of the sixth on Kevin Gratza's RBI single. The Mules had runners on second and third with one out in the inning, but failed to score any more runs.

UCM put runners in scoring position in the seventh and ninth innings, including two on with one out in the ninth, but couldn't push the winning run across. The game was still tied into the 11th when the RiverHawks put runners on the corners with one out. A UCM throwing error allowed both runs to score and put NSU in front 6-4.

The Mules got a run back in the bottom of the frame on Trevor Jones' solo home run to right field and had runners at first and second with one out, but a strikeout and groundout ended the game and gave NSU a 1-0 series lead.

Zach Davis (3-2) took the loss for UCM after pitching 3.2 innings of two-hit relief. Both runs were unearned. Starter Kyle Gehrs pitched 7.1 innings allowing four runs, three earned, on seven hits, while striking out 11.

Zack Hammock (5-0) earned the win for NSU after allowing one run on five hits in four innings of relief. Bobby Seghal recorded the final two outs of the game for his second save.

Jones finished the day 2-for-4 with home run, two RBI and two runs scored to lead UCM. Wilson had three hits and an RBI as well.

The series continues on Saturday with game two set for a 2 p.m. first pitch at Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field. The game can be heard live on 1450 KOKO, 98.5 The Bar and warrensburgradio.com with Bob Jackson on the call. If UCM wins game two, then the decisive third game would start approximately 30 minutes after the completion of the first game.