WARRENSBURG, Mo. (March 30, 2018) - It took the Mules offense a little while to get going, but the flood gates finally opened in a three-run seventh inning as UCM took the lead for good. The win is the Mules second straight and puts them at 23-7 this season and 14-5 in the MIAA.
Play-by-Play
• Central Missouri put runners on base in each of the first two innings, but ran their way out of the frame with a lineout double play and a caught stealing.
• Nebraska-Kearney got on the board in the second, scoring two runs on a sacrifice fly and a two-out RBI single from the eight and nine hitters.
• After the second, Loper starter Josh Cooper and UCM reliever
Ross Juliana continued to match zeroes.
• The Mules got a run closer in the sixth with a two-out rally. Micah Evan pinch hit and reached with a single and advanced to second on a throwing error. One batter later,
Mason Janvrin scored him with a double.
• Things fell apart for the Lopers in the seventh and the Mules took advantage of three UNK errors to score three runs and take the lead. The Mules tied the game on a fielding error as
Travis Able raced home.
Harrison Schnurbusch broke the 2-2 tie with a sacrifice fly.
Justin Graff-Rowe scored the third run of the inning as he scampered home on
Donovan Ditto's bunt, which was misplayed by the first baseman.
• The Lopers put up a major threat in the top of the eighth. They loaded the bases with nobody out. After
Stanton Lohrengel got a strikeout for out number one,
Jonathan Sprinkle entered and induced a pop up and ended the inning with a strikeout.
• UCM added an insurance run in the eighth when
Collin Nevil drove
Erik Webb home with a groundout.
•
Luke Mercer entered and pitched a scoreless ninth for the save.
Mules Stat Leaders
• Big day for
Ross Juliana who threw five innings out of the bullpen. He allowed just two hits and no runs while striking out five.
•
Mason Janvrin collected three hits and drove in a run.
•
Collin Nevil went 2-4 with a run scored and an RBI.
•
John Fairchild,
Harrison Schnurbusch and
Donovan Ditto all drove in a run.
For the Lopers
• Josh Cooper got the start and pitched the first seven innings allowing four runs (one earned) on seven hits with five strikeouts.
• Eight different spots in the lineup picked up one hit for the Lopers.
• Josh Robinson reached base twice with a hit and a walk and drove in a run.
News and Notes
• All eight of the Lopers hits were singles.
• Central Missouri has now won seven of their eight season series thus far.
•
Ross Juliana's five innings pitched are a season high. He improves to 4-0 and lowers his ERA to 1.35.
• There were a total of just two walks in the game. UNK pitchers threw eight innings without issuing a free pass.
• With a double,
Erik Webb has now reached base safely in 16 straight games.
Up Next
• The Mules go for the sweep of the Lopers tomorrow afternoon, Saturday, March 31. First pitch on Military Appreciation Day is set for 1 p.m.
