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HOUSTON, Texas -- The 22nd-ranked Mules baseball team got off to a slow start and fell to Henderson State 8-3 in the season-opener at the Houston Winter Invitational at Minute Maid Park. The Reddies out-hit the Mules 13-3 and UCM committed four errors in the loss.
Henderson State (1-0) struck first with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. Jordan Taylor had a sacrifice fly and Hayden Lessenberry added an RBI single. The Reddies made it 3-0 in the fourth when Hunter Mayall singled in another run.
The lead grew to 4-0 in the top of the sixth on Mayall's RBI single. HSU was aided by a throwing error on a failed UCM pick off attempt that allowed the runner to go from first to third.
The Mules (0-1) got on the board in the bottom of the inning when
Tony Sandifer brought home
Dylan Farrell with an RBI groundout to make it 4-1.
The Reddies blew the game open with four runs in the top of the seventh. HSU had two runners on with nobody out in the frame, when another UCM throwing error opened the flood gates. At the end of the inning, Henderson State led 8-1.
The Mules got a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth when Sandifer singled in to right field, scoring Farrell and
Derek Cornell to make it 8-3, but the Mules would get no closer.
Ricky Rivera (0-1) took the loss for UCM after giving up three runs on nine hits in just four innings of work.
Blake Kolons gave up four runs, two earned, on three hits in two innings of relief.
Ross Juliana tossed three scoreless innings of relief in his first collegiate outing.
Colton Lorance (1-0) earned the win for HSU allowing just one run on one hit in six innings of work. Jay Hawley picked up the save tossing three innings of relief.
The Mules will play three more games in the season-opening tournament beginning tomorrow at 6 p.m. against Winona State. The game can be heard live on 98.5 The Bar and warrensburgradio.com with Bob Jackson on the call. The UCM Office of Extended Studies Dugout Show will begin at approximately 5:35 p.m. Games in the Winter Invitational can start up to 30 minutes early, depending on field availability so stay tuned to UCMathletics.com for any schedule changes.
