TOPEKA, Kan. (May 6, 2016) – The 16th-ranked Mules rallied to beat 30th-ranked Washburn 3-2 in 10 innings in the series opener on Friday evening at Falley Field. With the win, UCM claims the outright MIAA Regular Season Championship and the No. 1 seed in next week's MIAA Tournament.
 
The Ichabods (31-16, 26-11 MIAA) got on the board first with a run in the first inning. Kyle Carnahan laced an RBI double to give WU the early 1-0 lead.
 
The Mules (32-12, 30-7 MIAA) were poised for a big inning in the second, loading the bases with no outs, but a double play and groundout ended the threat without UCM plating a run.
 
The Mules tied the game in the third on Matt Elliott's leadoff home run, it was his fourth long ball in the last four games and seventh overall.
 
Washburn went right back in front in the bottom of the frame. With a runner on first, David Gauntt blooped a single in to short left field. Carnahan went first to third on the play and then scored when the ball was bobbled by the Mules.
 
Central Missouri tied the game in the sixth on Cole Distler's RBI groundout. Bennett Oliver led off the inning with a double, went to third on a bunt and scored on the ground ball to tie the game at 2-2.
 
The Mules got a leadoff walk from Dusty Maas in the ninth, but he was thrown out trying to go first to third on a bunt single by Jackson Schnurbusch. UCM then had a runner on second with two out when Elliott flew out deep to right center field, keeping the game tied. Lucas Williams set the Ichabods down in order in the home half of the ninth and to extra innings we went.
 
The Mules took the lead in the 10th when Maas drew a bases loaded walk with two outs to put UCM in front 3-2.
 
The Ichabods put two on with two outs in the bottom half of the inning, but Grant Gavin got a groundout to third to end the game. It was his ninth save of the season and the 12th of his career. He is now tied for eighth place on UCM's career saves list.
 
Williams (3-1) picked up the win after tossing 1.2 innings of one-hit relief. Starter Tyler House gave the Mules six solid innings, allowing just two runs on five hits while striking out four. Ben Kelsch tossed 1.1 innings of one-hit relief as well.
 
Jaren Kutzke (2-4) took the loss for Washburn after giving up one run two hits in two-thirds of an inning of relief. WU starter Nick Silva tossed 8.2 innings. He allowed two runs on 10 hits with three walks and six strikeouts.

The series continues on Saturday afternoon with game two slated for a 4 p.m. first pitch at Falley Field.