JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (April 1, 2016) -- The Mules out-hit Lincoln 13-3 and capitalized on four LU errors en route to a 16-0 win the series opener on Friday afternoon at the LU Baseball Field. UCM has now won six straight games and improves to 17-8 overall and 15-3 in MIAA play.
UCM jumped in front 1-0 in the second inning when
Derek Cornell reached on an error and made his way all the way around the base paths on wild pitches. The lead grew to 6-0 in the third inning.
Travis Able had an RBI double to start the scoring.
Jake Alexander added an RBI single and scored on
Bennett Oliver's two-run home to center.
Cole Distler capped the scoring with an RBI double of his own.
UCM broke the game wide open in the sixth inning, plating 10 runs on five hits to take a 16-0 lead.
Colton Hilbrenner got the ball rolling with an RBI single. Alexander drew a bases-loaded walk to force in the second run and give UCM an 8-0 lead. Oliver added a two-run single before Cornell drove home another run to make it 11-0.
Matt Safranek drove in a run and
Jackson Schnurbusch and
Jake Nickelson each added two-run singles to cap the inning.
The offense provided more than enough run support for
Tyler House (5-0), who scattered three hits and walked just one while striking out six in four innings to get the win.
Tayler Ross struck out three in two innings of relief and
Luke Mercer recorded a pair of strikeouts in one inning of work.
Zach Maskill (0-6) took the loss for Lincoln.
Oliver finished the day 2-for-4 with a home run, four RBI and two runs scored. Cornell had three hits and three runs scored as well. Alexander, Schnurbusch and Nickelson each drove in a pair and Able finished the day 2-for-4 with a double, RBI and two runs scored.
The series continues on Saturday with a 1 p.m. first pitch at the LU Baseball Field.
