ARKADELPHIA, Ark. (Feb. 11, 2017) – Third-ranked Central Missouri split a pair of games on Saturday afternoon at the Henderson State Invitational, falling to Ouachita Baptist 4-2 in the first game of the day before rebounding with a 7-2 win over the host, Henderson State in the nightcap. The Mules are now 4-2 overall on the season.
Game 1 – Ouachita Baptist 4, UCM 2
The game was scoreless into the fourth inning when Ouachita Baptist (1-6) erupted for four runs to grab the lead. A leadoff triple by Kyle Alexander got things started for the Tigers and he later scored on a bunt off the bat of J.D. Speed. Kord Offenbacker had a two-run double down the left field line to make it 3-0 and he later scored on a passed ball to make it 4-0.
The Mules got a run back in the top of the fifth when
Elijah Dilday reached on an error and later scored on
Jackson Schnurbusch's RBI single.
That lead stood until the ninth when the Mules mounted a rally. Schnurbusch and
Connor Sorge had back-to-back walks to start the inning and both runners moved up on a passed ball.
Travis Stroup's sacrifice fly brought home Schnurbusch, but that was all the Mules could muster as they fell 4-2.
Jesse Steinbring (0-1) took the loss for the Mules after allowing four runs on five hits in 3.1 innings. He walked one and struck out five.
Taylor Burns tossed 3.2 innings of four-hit relief with six strikeouts and
Tayler Ross pitched a scoreless frame as well.
Abe Young (1-1) earned the win for OBU, allowing just two runs on two hits over eight innings. Logan Huneycutt earned the save after recording the final three outs.
Game 2 – UCM 7, Henderson State 2
The Reddies struck first in the bottom of the first inning on Parker Jones' solo home run to left field. HSU loaded the bases later in the inning, but the Mules were able to strand them loaded.
The Mules took the lead in the fourth with a pair of runs.
Erik Webb tripled home the first run, then scored on
Miles Orscheln's RBI groundout to put UCM in front 2-1.
The Reddies tied the game in the bottom of the fourth, but the Mules scored four times in the top of the fifth to seize control of the game at 6-2.
Justin Graff-Rowe had an RBI single to plate the go-ahead run and later in the inning Webb cleared the bases with a three-run double.
The Mules tacked on another run in the ninth on an RBI fielder's choice off the bat of Graff-Rowe to lead 7-2.
That was more than enough for
Steven D'Amico (1-0), who allowed just one unearned run on four hits over six innings of relief. He didn't walk a batter and struck out eight in the process.
HSU ace Chris Hunt (1-1) took the loss after allowing six runs on five hits over six innings.
The Mules return to action next weekend with three games at the Houston Winter Invitational at Minute Maid Park beginning on Friday, Feb. 17.
