WARRENSBURG, Mo. (April 22, 2018) – Central Missouri Mules Baseball picked up a hard fought win Sunday afternoon over the Emporia State Hornets, 6-5, at home. With the win, Central Missouri improves to 29-12 overall and 20-9 in the MIAA.
Play-by-Play
• The game's first runs did not come until the fifth inning. The two teams combined for six hits through the first four innings. UCM had four, while Emporia State (23-19, 14-15 MIAA) had two.
• The Mules had an opportunity to score in the bottom of the fourth loading the bases with two outs, but the Hornets escaped the jam.
• Emporia State ended the scoreless game with two runs scored in the fifth. Mack Gowing singled up the middle to plate home Brandon Bachar and Taylor Sanagorski for the unearned runs.
• The Mules put up their first run in the bottom of the sixth.
Erik Webb hit a leadoff triple to center field and was plated home on a RBI single from
Collin Nevil.
• The game was tied 2-2 on a RBI bunt single from
Harrison Schnurbusch which scored Nevil. The Mules grabbed their first lead, 4-2, on a two RBI double to left field from
Zak Whalin.
• Emporia State answered in the top of the seventh scoring two runs to tie the game at 4-4. Tate Kastens hit a leadoff single and got to third on a Bachar double. Bryce Fischer drove in both runners with a base hit up the middle.
• Mack Brown doubled to left field to get Fischer to third and he scored on a fielding error by UCM. The Hornets 5-4 lead did not last long as
Collin Nevil hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh to give UCM a 6-5 lead that was never relinquished.
•
Jonathan Sprinkle closed out the final two innings for the Mules to hold off the Hornets. With a runner at first, Fischer looked to play the role of hero. Sprinkle denied him the opportunity to give the Mules the series win.
Mules Stat Leaders
• Nevil finished the game with three hits in five at bats. Along with his game-winning two run homer, he had three RBI.
• Both
Justin Graff-Rowe and Schnurbusch finished 1-3, with a run scored. Schnurbusch also had a RBI.
• Whalin went 1-4 with, two RBI. Janvrin was the only other Mule besides Nevil with multiple hits going 3-5.
•
Bryce Kearns earned the win on the hill to improve to 2-0. He worked one complete inning, allowing one earned run on two hits and had one strikeout.
•
Jonathan Sprinkle was credited the save as he closed out the final two innings. He did not allow a single hit and struck out four batters.
For the Hornets
• Fischer had a 2-4 hitting performance, with two RBI and a run scored.
• Kastens also went 2-4, while scoring a run.
• Bachar collected one hit in four at bats and scored two runs.
• Taylor Thompson got the start on the mound and worked five innings. He gave up two runs (both earned) on six hits and fanned two batters.
• Layne Downing took the loss to fall to 0-1 on the year. He pitched 1.2 innings and allowed two runs (both earned) on three hits.
News and Notes
• The Mules four runs scored in the sixth ended a 12 inning scoring drought.
• The win is the 20th MIAA win of the season for UCM. It also the seventh series win in MIAA play for UCM this season.
• The Mules are now 109-52 all-time against the Hornets and are 6-7 against them under
Kyle Crookes.
• Sprinkle's four strikeouts on Sunday match his career-high. He also fanned four batters in the Mules win at Drury earlier this year.
Up Next
• The Mules are back in action for a midweek game against Southwest Baptist on Wednesday, April 25. The Mules and Bearcats are tied 1-1 this season. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field.
