ST. CHARLES, Mo. (May 14, 2016) -- Bennett Oliver hit his 21st home run of the season to set a new UCM single-season record, but the 12th-ranked Mules fell to Washburn 2-1 in 11 innings in MIAA Tournament action on Saturday afternoon. The same two teams will meet at 9 a.m. on Sunday morning with the winner earning a spot in the MIAA Championship game.
Oliver's record-breaking home run came on a 3-2 pitch leading off the second inning. He belted a line drive over the wall in right to put UCM (36-13) in front 1-0 and break the old single-season mark of 20 set by Ben Slemmer in 1998. Oliver now has 27 career homers, placing him in a tie for sixth all-time in Central Missouri history with Joe Strada (2002-04) and Chance Tuttle (2009-10).
The Mules had a chance to add to their lead in the third with runners at second and third and only one out, but a pop out and a ground out ended the UCM threat. The Mules loaded the bases with one out in the sixth, but again were unable to add any more runs as a strikeout and a pop up on the infield ended the inning.
Washburn (34-19) had a runner at third and only one out in the bottom of the seventh, but a failed squeeze play and a strike out from
Lucas Williams kept UCM with a 1-0 lead heading to the eighth.
The Ichabods were able to tie the game in the ninth to force extra innings. Tanner Triggs led off the inning with a single. Pinch runner Cole Gardner then stole second and went to third when
Blake Wilfong's throw down skipped in to center field for an error. Lance Barkley then grounded out to shortstop to bring home Gardner with the tying run.
The Mules weren't able to mount a threat in the 10th or 11th and Washburn capitalized on a leadoff hit by pitch in the 11th to earn the win. David Gaunt was hit by a pitch, went to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on Barkley's single to left.
Grant Gavin (4-3) was tagged with the loss for Central Missouri after allowing two runs on three hits in 2.1 innings of relief. Starter
Carlos D'Armas tossed six solid innings, allowing just three hits and striking out seven. Williams allowed one hit over two innings of relief and struck out two.
Greg Mason (5-2) got the win in relief for WU tossing 2.2 innings of no-hit relief. Starter Maustin Otterstatter matched D'Armas pitch for pitch, tossing 5.1 innings allowing one run on three hits. Jaren Kutzke tossed three innings of three-hit relief.
These two teams will now square off in the "if necessary" game for bracket two on Sunday morning at 9 a.m. The winner will earn a spot in Sunday afternoon's MIAA Tournament Championship game.
