Season Stats | Box Score

JOPLIN, Mo. - Central Missouri baseball fell 4-3 to the No. 22 ranked Missouri Southern Lions in Sunday afternoon's series finale. The Mules and Lions split the weekend series, each winning two games with all four games decided by a single run. The loss drops the Mules to 12-12 on the season and 8-8 in the MIAA.

Missouri Southern got on the board first, scoring on back-to-back doubles in the second.

The starting pitchers were in charge after that as the two teams traded zeroes and the score remained 1-0 through five.

UCM broke through in the sixth with a two-out rally. Four straight Mules reached base after the first two batters of the inning were retired. UCM took a 2-1 lead taking advantage of a two-base error from the Lions.

The lead only lasted until the next half inning however. The Lions tied the game on an RBI double and regained the lead on a two-run home run.

We went to the ninth with the score still 4-2. Jackson Schnurbusch ripped a one-out triple to right center and scored on a sacrifice fly from Colton Hilbrenner, but that's all the Mules could get, as Missouri Southern held on for the 4-3 win.

Ricky Rivera started for UCM and took the loss pitching 5.2 innings allowing four runs on seven hits while striking out four and walking just one. Austin Southmayd came in and pitched 2.1 innings of scoreless relief.

UCM scattered seven hits in the game, getting a pair from Bennett Oliver who finished 2-for-4 with a run scored. Hilbrenner had the only RBI for the Mules.

The Mules are back in action Tuesday for a single nonconference game against Emporia State at Crane Stadium. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m.