ST. CHARLES, Mo. (May 13, 2016) -- Ethan Westphal tossed a complete-game four-hitter and the Mules pounded out 13 hits en route to a 10-0 run-rule win over Missouri Western on Friday night at the Lou Brock Sports Complex.
The Mules (36-12) wasted no time in jumping on the Griffons.
Matt Elliott led off the bottom of the first with a single, went to second on
Jake Alexander's walk and scored on
Bennett Oliver's RBI single to right. Following an out on the base paths,
Collin Nevil doubled to the gap in left center to score Oliver and UCM led 2-0.
Cole Distler's two-out, two-run single in the third gave the Mules a 4-0 lead. UCM then broke the game wide open in the fourth. Elliott had a two-run double to the gap in right center to make it 6-0. He scored on
Dylan Farrell's double to center to make it 7-0 and Alexander singled home Farrell for an 8-0 UCM lead.
The Mules closed the game out with two more runs in the bottom of the seventh. Nevil led off the inning with a triple and scored on a Griffon fielding error for a 9-0 advantage. A walk and a single loaded the bases for
Blake Wilfong, who drew a walk to push the 10th run across and end the game.
The 10 runs were more than enough for Westphal who was on top of his game. He allowed just four hits in the game and tossed his fourth complete-game of the season. He struck out eight and walked two. His eight strikeouts pushed his season total to 90, which ranks as the seventh most in a single-season in UCM history.
Nevil finished the game 3-for-4 with an RBI and run scored. Elliott, Farrell and
Jackson Schnurbusch each had two hits, while Elliott and Distler each drove in a pair.
With the win, the Mules advance to the bracket two title game. They will face the winner of Washburn and Central Oklahoma on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. WU and UCO will play at 9 a.m. on Saturday and the winner must beat the Mules twice to advance to Sunday's tournament championship game.
