WARRENSBURG, Mo. (March 31, 2018) – Central Missouri Mules Baseball had their bats come to life as they put up 13 runs on 13 hits in their series finale against Nebraska-Kearney. Defense was tight the whole game as the Mules committed no errors and held the Lopers to just three runs to defeat them in seven innings.
Play-by-Play
• The Mules (24-7, 15-5 MIAA) scored at least one run in six of the seven innings played. The first run came in the first inning as
Travis Able had a RBI groundout to score
Mason Janvrin who led off with a single.
• The Lopers (17-14, 10-7 MIAA) answered in the second scoring two runs. Calvin Rudolph led off with a double down the left field line and was brought home when Josh Robinson hit a two-run homer to right field. The 2-1 lead for UNK did not last long and they scored just one more run the rest of the game.
• Three runs in the bottom half of the second gave UCM the lead back, 4-2. After
Justin Graff-Rowe triple to lead off the inning,
John Fairchild hit a double to right center to score him and tie the game. Two batters later
Donovan Ditto scored Fairchild with base hit through the left side. Ditto then made it home on back-to-back wild pitches and a throwing error by UNK.
• The Lopers managed just one hit before scoring again in the top of the sixth. The Mules created some separation scoring six runs after being down 2-1 to lead 7-2 after five innings.
• UCM tacked on a run in the bottom of the third. Both
Travis Able and Graff-Rowe got on base after being hit by pitch, while Fairchild was walked to load the bases. Harrison Schnurbush then made it to first on a fielding error by UNK, which scored Nevil.
•
Ben Kelsch worked a 1-2-3 inning to start the fourth, but the Lopers responded and kept the Mules from scoring in the bottom of the fourth to keep the game in reach at 5-2. Kelsch had the momentum and worked a second straight 1-2-3 inning in the fifth.
• Two runs in the bottom of the fifth gave UCM breathing room with a 7-2 lead. Able led off with a single and got to second on a throwing error. A double from Fairchild scored him and Schnurbusch had a sacrifice fly to right field which scored Graff-Rowe who was hit by pitch to get on base.
• UNK added their final run in the top of the sixth. Alex Achtermann led off with a double and was immediately plated by Ty Roseberry on a RBI single up the middle. The Mules scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth and the seventh to end the game early.
•
Erik Webb had a sacrifice fly to right field, which scored
Zak Whalin. Able then singled up the middle to score Janvrin. A pair of wild pitches got Able to third and he was plated home on a Graff-Rowe single.
• Schnurbusch was walked to leadoff the seventh. A bunt single and back-to-back sacrifice flies scored him. Webb was hit by pitch to get on and Able had the chance to end the game. On a 2-2 pitch, he doubled through the left side to score and Webb and Ditto to give the Mules the 13-3 win.
Mules Stat Leaders
• Able led the charge going 3-5 on the day with four RBI and two runs scored.
• Fairchild had two hits in three at bats, with a run scored and two RBI.
• Graff-Rowe finished a perfect 2-2 and had two runs scored to go along with a RBI.
• Both Ditto and Janvrin went 2-4, with a RBI and two runs scored.
• Kelsch pitched six innings for the Mules to improve to 4-1. He struck out six batters and allowed three runs (all earned) on six hits.
For the Lopers
• Robinson was 1-3, with two RBI and a run scored. He had the game's only home run.
• Achtermann had the only multiple hit game for UNK finishing 2-4, with a run scored.
• Rudolph and Roseberry both went 1-3. Rudolph had a run scored, while Roseberry had a RBI.
• Jared Bell suffered the loss to fall to 1-2. In three innings pitched he gave up five runs (three earned) on four hits.
News and Notes
• With the series sweep the Mules are now 14-5 all-time against the Lopers and 9-2 against them under
Kyle Crookes.
• Kelsch's six strikeouts in game three against UNK are the second most he has thrown this season.
• The Mules are now 93-38 in MIAA play under
Kyle Crookes.
• UCM has now swept four overall three-game series this season, three of which have come against MIAA opponents.
Up Next
• The Mules close out their five game homestand with a Tuesday tilt against Lindenwood on April 3. UCM defeated the Lions earlier this season, 9-5, on the road. Game start is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field.
