WARRENSBURG, Mo. (April 16, 2016) -- Miles Orscheln hit a go-ahead two-run triple in the sixth inning and
Matt Safranek followed with a two-run home run to send the 16th-ranked Mules to a 5-2 win over Missouri Southern on Saturday afternoon and even their series at a game apiece.
The Mules (24-10, 22-5 MIAA) jumped on top 1-0 in the second inning when Safranek doubled home
Derek Cornell. That lead stood until the fifth when Missouri Southern got a two-out two-run double from Chris Hoffman to take a 2-1 lead. The relay throw to the plate was close, but the Lion runner was ruled safe to put MSSU in front.
UCM responded on the sixth with four runs to recapture the lead for good.
Dylan Farrell led off the inning with a single, stole second and went to third on
Jake Alexander's sacrifice bunt. Cornell was hit by a pitch with two outs to put runners at the corners and set the stage for Orscheln's go-ahead triple. Following a pitching change, Safranek hit a 2-2 pitch down the line in left for his second home run of the season and gave the Mules some breathing room.
The bullpen did the rest for the Mules.
Lucas Williams pitched the seventh and eighth innings, allowing three hits and getting out of a two-on one-out jam in the eighth, and
Grant Gavin tossed a perfect ninth for his seventh save of the season.
Starter
Ethan Westphal (6-1) picked up the win after allowing two runs on four hits in six innings of work. He walked one and struck out five.
Payton Walker (6-3) took the loss for Missouri Southern after giving up four runs on six hits in 5.2 innings. Connor Matson gave up one run on one hit in an inning of relief.
Safranek finished the day 2-for-4 with a double, home run and three RBI, while Orscheln was 2-for-3 with a triple and two driven in. Cornell was 1-for-2 and scored a pair of runs.
The save for Gavin was his seventh of the season, moving him in to a tie for ninth place on the single season saves list and it was the 10th of his career, moving him in to a tie for 10th place on the career list.
UCM will go for the series win on Sunday at 1 p.m. The game can be heard live on 1450 KOKO and warrensburgradio.com with
Bob Jackson and
Ricky Rivera on the call.
