WARRENSBURG, Mo. (April 21, 2018) - Central Missouri Mules Baseball battled through 11 innings against the Emporia State Hornets in game two of their three game series but fell just short, 5-4, Saturday afternoon at Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field. The Mules are now 28-12 overall and 19-9 in MIAA play.
Play-by-Play
• It did not take long for the Mules to grab the lead.
Collin Nevil led off the bottom of the second inning with a single to left center. Two batters laterÂ
John Fairchild nailed a home run to right center on the first pitch to give the Mules a 2-0 lead.
• Emporia State (23-18, 14-14 MIAA) responded in the top of the third scoring three runs to lead, 3-2. Brandon Bachar doubled to get on. Brian Grove got him to third with a single and a throwing error by UCM scored him. Two batters later Bryce Fischer had a RBI groundout to score Grove. Kaden Schaffer plated home the third run on a RBI double.
• The Mules final two runs came in the bottom of the fourth. Fairchild hit a leadoff single and
Harrison Schnurbusch was hit by pitch to get on base.
Donovan Ditto got to first on a fielder's choice and look to get to second but was thrown out, while both Schnurbusch and Fairchild advanced. Fairchild crossed home plate on an ESU throwing error.
•
Zak Whalin brought in the final run with a RBI groundout to second base which allowed Schnurbusch to score. UCM retook to the lead 4-3, but it did not last long.
Ben Kelsch forced a pop up on the leadoff hitter and struck the next batter out looking to start the fifth. Fischer then hit a solo home run to right field to tie the game 4-4.
• The final four innings of regulation became a pitching battle as the two teams combined for just three hits total before going into extra innings.
Coby Seiz replaced Kelsch in the top of the seventh and work four solid innings for the Mules allowing just two hits.
• The Hornets threatened in the 10th, getting a runner to third with just one out, but the Mules managed to turn a double play to keep the runner stranded. Following a 1-2-3 bottom of the 10th, ESU grabbed the lead in the 11th.
• Trevor Turner was walked to leadoff the 11th. Taylor Sanagroski then hit a sacrifice bunt to advance Turner. Tate Kastens drove in Turner for the gamewinning run on a double down the right field line. The Mulers threatened in the bottom of the inning getting two runners on but both were left stranded.
Mules Stat Leaders
• Fairchild was the only batter with multiple hits finishing 3-4, with two runs scored and two RBI.
• Nevil was one of four batters to go 1-5. He also had a run scored.
•
Mason Janvrin,
Travis Able, and
Erik Webb all finished 1-5 as well.
• Kelsch pitched six complete innings. He had a game-high six strikeouts, while giving up four runs (all earned) on eight hits.
• In four innings worked out of the bullpen, Seiz allowed just two hits and fanned four batters.
For the Hornets
• Fischer went 1-4 on the day with a two RBI and a run scored.
• Turner and Shaffer also finished 1-4, respectively. Shaffer scored a run,while Turner had a RBI.
• Gowing and Mason Brown each had the most hits with two apiece. Both were 2-5, with Gowing scoring a run.
• Tanner Cairns got the start and went the distance pitching nine complete. He had four strikeouts and allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits.Â
• Nathan Gieber got the win out of the bullpen to improve to 1-3. He pitched the final two innings and gave up just two hits and struck out one batter.
News and Notes
• Saturday's game is the second one of the season that the Mules played extra innings.Â
• Kelsch's six strikeouts were just one shy of his season-high. He has now thrown four or more strikeouts in each of his last three starts and in four of his last five.
• Janvrin extended his hitting streak to 12 games and Able extended his on base streak to 15 games.
Up Next
• The series finale. Tied 1-1, the Mules and Hornets will battle for the series win tomorrow afternoon with the first pitch set for 1 p.m. at Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field.
