HAYS, Kan. (Feb. 28, 2016) -- The Central Missouri offense exploded for 16 runs and 15 hits as the Mules held off Fort Hays State 16-12 on Sunday afternoon at Larks Park to win the series 2-1 and improve to 3-6 overall and 2-1 in MIAA play.
The Mules scored two runs in the first on a
Derek Cornell sacrifice fly and on a wild pitch. The Tigers (7-7, 1-2 MIAA) got a run back in the home half on a Caleb Cherryholmes solo home run. It was the first of eight combined home runs on the day.
Miles Orscheln hit his first home run of the season in the top of the second to put UCM in front 3-1, but the Tigers scored two in the bottom half on Calyton Basgall's single to tie the game at 3-3. Alex Weiss and Alex King had RBI singles in the third to put Fort Hays State in front 5-3 and they added two more in the fourth on a Basgall home run and Joe Mapes RBI single to lead 7-3.
The Mules scored three runs in the fifth to pull within 7-6.
Jake Alexander had an RBI groundout to start the scoring and
Bennett Oliver hit the first of his two homers to cap the inning. The Mules added three more in the sixth on a
Matt Elliott long ball to regain the lead, 9-7.
That lead stood until the eighth when Connor Ross belted a two-out, three-run home run to put the Tigers in front 10-9 heading to the ninth inning. The UCM offense responded, however, scoring seven times in the top of the ninth to go back in front 16-10. Alexander led off with a double and scored on Oliver's second home run of the game to put the Mules in front 11-10. Orscheln laid down a sac bunt and when the throw got away it allowed Cornell to score to give UCM a 12-10 advantage.
Blake Wilfong added a two-run double to make it 14-10 and Elliott capped it off with a two-run shot to left and the Mules led 16-10.
They would need every insurance run as the Tigers mounted a rally in the bottom of the ninth inning. Ty Redington had an RBI single to make it 16-11 and Austin Unrein drew a bases-loaded walk to make it 16-12 with only one out.
Reece Ponak then struck out Mapes and Ross to secure the win for the Mules.
Elliott finished the day 4-for-6 with two home runs, five RBI and three runs scored, while Oliver was a perfect 4-for-4 with two homers, four RBI and two runs scored. Alexander and Orscheln had two hits apiece and Wilfong drove in a pair of runs.
Ponak (1-0) earned the win in relief after giving up three runs on four hits in 1.1 innings. Starter
Carlos D'Armas was roughed up for seven runs on nine hits in 3.2 innings of work.
Grant Gavin tossed 2.1 innings of one-hit relief, he struck out three and walked two.
Logan Herd (1-1) took the loss for Fort Hays State after surrendering six runs, four earned, on five hits in 1.2 innings of relief.
The Mules are back in action next Friday, March 4 hosting Pittsburg State at 2 p.m. in the home opener. There will be a pregame field dedication ceremony to unveil the new synthetic playing surface which was installed this winter. The game can be heard live on 1450 KOKO and warrensburgradio.com with
Bob Jackson on the call.
