WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Feb. 25, 2018) - Central Missouri Mules Baseball kicked off MIAA play this afternoon taking on Missouri Western in a doubleheader. Mules pitchers were the story of the day, as were a few clutch home runs, as the Mules swept the Griffons with wins of 4-2 and 8-4.
Game One: Central Missouri 4, Missouri Western 2
Play-by-Play
• Terrific pitching from both teams as both starters went at least seven innings.
• Through the first four innings, neither team had a run and just one hit apiece.
• Missouri Western got on the board first scoring an unearned run in the fifth after an RBI single from Fahd Shakeel.
• The Mules answered in the sixth with one big swing of the bat. Back-to-back- singles to start the inning and a one-out walk brought up catcher
Payne McCutcheon. He launched a 2-1 pitch over the left center field fence for a grand slam, his first career home run.
• That was all the scoring the Mules needed. Starter
Ben Kelsch pitched into the seven and
Coby Seiz threw the final two innings.
• Missouri Western got a run in the ninth on a one-out solo home run from Dusty Stroup. They brought the tying run to the plate, but Siez got a groundball to end the game.
Mules Stat Leaders
• Kelsch got the win and improves to 3-0 on the season. He threw seven innings giving up just one unearned run on two hits with a walk and seven strikeouts.
• Seiz tossed the final two to record his second save of the season. He gave up a run on three hits with a strikeout.
• McCutcheon drove in all four Mules runs and was 1-2 at the plate with a hit by pitch.
•
Collin Nevil collected two hits in four at bats and scored a run.
•
Travis Able and
Dalton Dull each picked up a hit for UCM.
For the Griffons
• Carson Dwyer threw all eight innings for the Griffons. He allowed four runs on five hits with four strikeouts and three walks.
• Casey Danley went 2-4 with a pair of singles.
• Brooks Day and Dusty Stroup each went 1-4 and scored a run.
Game Two: Central Missouri 8, Missouri Western 4
Play-by-Play
• This was another pitcher's duel through seven innings until the Mules offense came to life.
• For the second straight game, the Griffons got on the board first. They scored a run in the second on a sacrifice fly. The Griffons started the inning with two in scoring position after a single and a double. Starter
Collin Jones did well to limit the damage to a single run.
• Central Missouri answered in the third when
Erik Webb drove in
Donovan Ditto with an RBI double.
• The lead didn't last as the Griffons went right back on top with another two-out RBI. This time a single from Brooks Day.
• The Mules tied the game in the fifth and took their first lead one inning later.
Travis Able's RBI ground out tied things at two, and
Justin Graff-Rowe gave UCM a lead with a sacrifice fly to right.
• Central Missouri got some insurance in the eighth putting up five runs.
John Fairchild had the biggest hit, a two-run home run to left center.
Ryan Toliver,
Donovan Ditto and
Erik Webb all had RBI hits in the frame.
• The first four batters all reached base for the Griffons in the ninth and two scored. With the tying run on deck,
Luke Mercer struck out two straight before getting a fly ball to end the game.
Mules Stat Leaders
•
Collin Jones started and lasted five innings giving up two runs on three hits. He also walked two and struck out two.
•
Brandon Reid pitched 2.2 innings in relief to earn his first win of the season. He didn't allow a baserunner and struck out two.
• Mercer picked up his fourth save of the season working 1.1 innings and giving up two runs, one earned with a pair of strikeouts.
• Fairchild picked up three hits and a pair of RBI finishing 3-4 with a home run.
•
Erik Webb went 4-5 with a double, triple and two RBI.
•
Collin Nevil scored a run and punched two doubles.
For the Griffons
• Nate Hunter threw the first seven innings giving up five runs, four earned on nine hits and suffered the loss.
• Brooks Day drove in three runs on two hits.
• Casey Danley scored two of the Griffons four runs, reaching base with a hit and a walk.
News and Notes
• Central Missouri has now won seven straight, all seven being at home.
• UCM starters combined to throw 12 innings and give up just three runs with nine strikeouts.
• The Mules racked up 13 hits in game two.
• For the first time this season, someone other than
Mason Janvrin led-off and started in centerfield when
Travis Able started game two.
• With saves from Seiz and Mercer, UCM now has saves in six of their eight wins.
Up Next
• The Mules conclude their three-game series with the Griffons Monday afternoon with a 1 p.m. first pitch.
