EMPORIA, Kan. (April 8, 2017) – Central Missouri rebounded from a tough loss on Friday night in a big way by handing No. 17 Emporia State its worst home loss since 2012 in a 12-1 run-rule victory on Saturday afternoon at Glennen Field.
The 19th-ranked Mules (22-10, 13-7 MIAA) wasted no time in jumping on the Hornets (26-8, 15-5 MIAA) in this second game of a three-game series. Five straight batters reached base in the top of the first for the Mules as they plated four runs to grab a 4-0 lead.
Collin Nevil had an RBI single to start the scoring and
Justin Graff-Rowe followed it up with a three-run home run to left to give the Mules the early advantage.
The four-run cushion stood until the fifth inning when Nevil and Graff-Rowe struck again. With nobody on and two outs in the inning they hit back-to-back home runs to left to give the Mules a 6-0 lead.
The Hornets got on the board in the bottom of the inning, scoring on a balk to make it 6-1, but
Andy Muehlberger came out of the bullpen with two on and only one out and got a double play to keep ESU from getting any closer.
The Mules got that run back plus a few more in the sixth.
Blake Wilfong plated the first run on a sacrifice bunt to make it 7-1. Three straight walks, including the last to
Travis Stroup, forced in another run and Nevil finished off the inning with a sacrifice fly to give the Mules a 9-1 lead.
Wilfong hit a sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh to make it 10-1 and
Erik Webb singled with the bases loaded to drive in two more and UCM led 12-1.
JJ Benes pitched around a leadoff double in the bottom of the seventh and kept ESU off the board, giving the Mules the run-rule and giving the Hornets their first run-rule loss at home in five season.
Steven D'Amico (4-1) picked up the win for the Mules after allowing just one run on two hits in 4.2 innings of work. He struck out five as well. Muehlberger pitched two-thirds of an inning and Benes tossed the final two allowing just two hits and fanning two.
Graff-Rowe finished the day 3-for-4 with two home runs and four RBI, while Nevil was 2-for-4 with a home run and three driven in. Webb and
Matt Elliott finished with two hits apiece as well.
Tanner Cairns (4-1) took the loss for the Hornets after giving up eight runs on eight hits in five innings of work.
The Mules go for the series win on Sunday. The series finale gets underway at noon at Glennen Field at the Trusler Sports Complex.
