Mules Score 17 Runs to Take Series with Washburn

TOPEKA, Kan. (March 4, 2018) - If offense is contagious, Mules Baseball is down with the sickness. The Mules put on an offensive display in the series finale against Washburn and came out with a 17-11 win. The win puts UCM at 12-3 this season and 5-1 in the MIAA.

How it Happened
• The Ichabods put up four runs in the first two innings, scoring one in the first on a two-out single and three times in the second, getting consecutive RBI singles and getting a run to cross the plate while the baserunner at first was caught in a rundown.
• UCM started their comeback with two in the top of the third. Erik Webb and Travis Able had back-to-back run scoring hits to cut the Washburn lead in half. 
• The fourth is where UCM did their most damage. There were only four hits, but thanks to four walks and two errors, the Mules were able to send 13 to the plate and score nine runs. Harrison Schnurbusch brought UCM to within one and Cole Hoover tied the game with a single. Webb and Mason Janvrin added run-scoring hits, putting UCM up 8-4, but they weren't done yet. John Fairchild scored Webb with a sacrifice fly and Collin Nevil crossed the plate as Justin Graff-Rowe stole second. Schnurbusch then picked up another RBI in the inning with a single to score Graff-Rowe and conclude all the scoring.
• After a 1-2-3 bottom of the fourth, the UCM offense went back to work with a five run fifth. Able scored a run with a single and Nevil drove in two thanks to a fielder's choice. Fairchild had the biggest hit of the inning, a two-run double in the right-centerfield gap, and the Mules were up by 12, 16-4.
• The Ichabods scored in three of the final five innings, but still never brought even the tying run to the plate.
• For good measure, Harrison Schnurbusch picked up RBI number three with a sacrifice fly in the ninth.

Mules Stat Leaders
• Erik Webb had another big day with five hits in six at bats. He also scored three times and drove in three runs with two doubles and stole two bases. 
• Webb wasn't the only Mule with five hits. Travis Able was also 5-6 with two RBI.
• Schnurbusch and Fairchild each drove in three runs. 
• Mason Janvrin, Collin Nevil and Justin Graff-Rowe all scored three runs. Janvrin had two hits and a stolen base. Nevil drove in two.
• Brandon Reid started and pitched three innings giving up four runs (three earned) on five hits with a walk and four strikeouts.
• Bryce Kearns got the win throwing two innings allowing four runs (one earned) and four hits.
• Dimitri Frank pitched 2.1 scoreless innings with two strikeouts.

For the Ichabods
• Jake Bublitz went 3-4 with two runs and two RBI. 
• Brady Hoover drove in a pair of runs.
• Josh Crosby scored twice and Darian Abram was 1-4 with an RBI and three runs scored.
• Sam Carver got the start and took the loss tossing three innings and giving up five runs (two earned) on four hits with a strikeout and two walks.
• Nick Sloan was effective in relief throwing four innings and giving up two runs on seven hits with four strikeouts.

News and Notes
• All nine Mules starters collected at least one hit in the game.
• All nine starters also either had a run scored or an RBI.
• Both Webb and Able are the first Mules to collect five hits in a game this season.
• Over the last two games, Webb was 6-10 with two doubles, a home run and seven RBI.
• The Mules 17 runs are a season-high and their 19 hits tie a season-best.
• Frank pitched in his first career game as a Mule.

Up Next
• Central Missouri remains on the road for some midweek action. They'll head to Springfield, Mo. to take on Drury Wednesday, March 7 for a 4 p.m. first pitch.