WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Feb. 26, 2018) - Mules Baseball won their eighth straight game Monday afternoon and swept the weekend series with Missouri Western in the process. The series finale had no shortage of runs as the teams combined for 25 and 28 hits. The win puts UCM at 9-2 and 3-0 in the MIAA.
Play-by-Play
• Plenty of scoring in this one. Both teams scored at least one run in five different innings. The Mules scored multiple runs in all five.
• Missouri Western got things started with a four-run second. A two-run home run started the scoring. They added two unearned runs on a two-out, two-RBI double. They added one more in the third on an RBI ground out to take a 5-0 lead.
• Central Missouri started their comeback in the bottom half of the second. An RBI single by
Harrison Schnurbusch and a run-scoring grounder from
Payne McCutcheon put UCM on the board. A fielding error in the third gave the Mules another run. Two batters later,
Justin Graff-Rowe tied the game with a two-RBI single to right.
• After neither team scored in the fourth, the Mules took their first lead in the fifth. Graff-Rowe gave UCM the lead with a single to right.
Harrison Schnurbusch tacked on another run with an RBI single.
• The lead didn't last though as the Griffons scored three in the sixth to go back on top, 8-7. With two outs, Dusty Stroup tied the game with a double and then scored on a single to left.
• It didn't take long for UCM to score again. In the bottom half of the inning,
Collin Nevil gave UCM the lead with a double to right center. He then scored on a straight steal of home and the Mules took a 10-8 lead.
• The Griffons got a run in both the seventh and eighth to tie though. A sacrifice fly brought MWSU within one and an inning later, Will Jibas tied the game at 10 with a single to left.
• The Mules finally laid the hammer down in the eighth, delivering a knock-out blow. UCM sent nine to bat in the inning and scored five runs on four hits. The first five batters all reached base.
Ryan Toliver delivered the game winning hit, a bases-loaded, two-RBI double to right.
Justin Graff-Rowe and
Zak Whalin picked up RBI's to pad the lead and a fifth run scored on a wild pitch.
•
Luke Mercer pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to hold down the win for UCM. It was the only 1-2-3 inning for the Mules in the game.
Mules Stat Leaders
•
Collin Nevil and
Justin Graff-Rowe each collected three hits in the game. Nevil finished 3-5 with three runs and two RBI while Graff-Rowe drove in four.
•
Travis Able scored three runs and was 2-4 at the plate.
• Batting leadoff,
Erik Webb finished 2-3 with two runs scored.
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Harrison Schnurbusch drove in two and scored a run, finishing 2-4.
•
Ryan Toliver drove in two runs.
Payne McCutcheon and
Zak Whalin each plated a run.
•
Charlie Skantze got the win for the Mules. He gave up a run in one inning of work with a strikeout.
•
Luke Mercer pitched a perfect ninth with a strikeout.
• Johnathan Sprinkle tossed 2.1 innings and gave up two runs on one hit with two strikeouts.
•
Bryce Kearns started and threw 1.2 innings. He allowed four runs, two earned on five hits with two strikeouts.
For the Griffons
• Kyle Snuttjer finished 1-3 with three RBI and a home run.
• Nick Schranck reached base five times. He was 3-4 with two walks. He also drove in two and scored a run.
• Brooks Day, Will Jibas and Fahd Shakeel all knocked two hits.
• Jacob Miller got the start and threw four innings giving up six runs, four earned on seven hits with two strikeouts.
News and Notes
•
Collin Nevil collected hit No. 100 for his career with a double in the sixth.
• Central Missouri avenged their sweep from the Griffons last year with a sweep of their own in 2018.
• The Mules 15 runs are the most they've scored in a game this season.
• For the sixth time in 11 games, UCM picked up at least 10 hits in the game.
• Central Missouri used eight pitchers to get the win.
Up Next
• Central Missouri moved their game against William Jewell up one day. The Mules will host the Cardinals Tuesday, Feb. 27. First pitch is currently scheduled for 6 p.m.
