Box Score | Season Stats ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The Central Missouri Mules jumped out to an early lead, but Missouri Western rallied to earn a 10-5 non-conference win on Tuesday afternoon. The Mules were out-hit 11-6 in the game and four UCM errors led to four unearned runs for the Griffons.
The Mules (10-10) jumped on the board early, scoring two runs in the top of the first.
Matt Milner had an RBI groundout to plate the first run and
Derek Cornell tacked on an RBI single and UCM led 2-0.
The Mules added another run in the second on
Colton Hilbrenner's RBI triple to lead 3-0. Hilbrenner was at third with one out, but UCM couldn't push the extra run across. The Griffons (14-7) came right back with two of their own runs in the bottom of the inning on a Dylon Koch two-run single.
The Mules took a 4-2 lead in the top of the third when
Tony Sandifer scored on a balk, but Missouri Western came right back in the bottom half scoring four unearned runs to take the lead. David Glaude had an RBI single and Cosimo Cannella added one as well to tie the game. Koch then came to the plate and roped a two-RBI single to give the Griffons a 6-4 lead.
UCM got a run back in the top of the fourth when
Trevor Jones tripled home Hilbrenner with one out. Jones ended up stranded at third, however, and the score was 6-5 in favor of MWSU.
The Griffons added a single run in the bottom of the seventh on Cannella's RBI double and tacked on three more in the eighth to take a 10-5 lead.
The Mules loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth inning, but were unable to push any runs across.
Matt Russell (2-1) earned the win for MWSU tossing 2.2 innings of relief. He allowed two runs on two hits, while striking out three.
Ross Juliana (0-1) took the loss for UCM after giving up six runs, only two earned, on six hits in three innings.
Jones finished the day 3-for-5 with two triples and an RBI.
The Mules will open a four-game MIAA series at Missouri Southern on Friday night at 6 p.m.
