WARRENSBURG, Mo. (April 27, 2018) - In their final homestand of the regular season, Central Missouri Mules Baseball picked up a 7-2 series opening win Friday night against the Missouri Southern Lions. With the win the Mules are now 31-12 overall and 22-9 in MIAA play.
Play-by-Play
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Collin Nevil drove in the Mules first run in the bottom of the first with a RBI double to left center to score
Travis Able. Mules led 1-0.
• The Lions answered in the third with a two-out double from Dan Lenz. He was then plated home on a home run down from Johnny Balsamo to give MSSU a 2-1 lead.
• Nevil tied the game in the bottom half of the inning with a RBI sacrifice fly to score
Zak Whalin who got on with a leadoff single. UCM held the Lions scoreless the rest of the night while scoring five more runs.
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Erik Webb knocked a RBI single to left to plate home
Mason Janvrin in the fifth. MSSU's lone error came after Janvrin's single. They look to pick him off at first, but a throwing error by the catcher got him to third.
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Coby Seiz entered the game in the sixth with two runners on and one out. Seiz and the Mules turned a 4-6-3 double play to end the top of the inning and maintain a 3-2 lead.
• The Mules lead grew to 4-2 when
John Fairchild hit a leadoff home run to left center on a 2-1 pitch.
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Harrison Schnurbusch picked up Fairchild's momentum and immediately followed him up with a solo home run to left field making 5-2 Mules lead.
• The final two UCM runs came in the bottom of the eighth.
Justin Graff-Rowe smashed a leadoff home run to left center for the Mules to extend their lead to 6-2.
• Two batters later, Whalin hit a RBI single off the first base bag allowing Ditto score. Seiz closed out the game in the ninth to secure the Mules 31st win of the season.
Mules Stat Leaders
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Luke Lucas started and threw the first 5.1 innings. He allowed two runs on five hits with four walks and six strikeouts.
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Collin Nevil drove in two runs going 1-2 with a double, sacrifice fly and hit by pitch.
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John Fairchild and
Harrison Schnurbusch were each 1-3 with a home run.
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Zak Whalin collected three hits in four at bats, with a home run.
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Justin Graff-Rowe finished 1-4 with a home run.
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Mason Janvrin and
Travis Able were each 1-3 with a run scored.
For the Lions
• Corbin Osburn tossed the first six innings giving up five runs (three earned) on eight hits while striking out three and walking three.
• Mike Million and Denver Coffee each picked up a pair of hits.
• Johnny Balsamo went 1-4 with a two run home run to drive in the Lions only two runs.
• Dan Lenz reached base twice with a single and a walk. He also scored a run.
News and Notes
• The Mules win over Lions is the 100th MIAA win for
Kyle Crookes. He is now 100-42 in MIAA play in his fourth season as the Mules head coach.
• UCM is now 6-2 this season when they do not have an error in a game. They are now 8-1 when they hit two-plus home runs in a game.
• The Mules are 19-3 at Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field this season. They have won their last three home games, and four of their last five.
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Mason Janvrin's hit streak and on-base streak are now at 15 games. He is one shy in both categories from matching his season-high of 16.
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Travis Able has extended his hit streak to 10 games, a season-high. His on base streak is now at 18 games, and he just two shy of reaching 20.
Up Next
• The Mules will celebrate Senior Day following game two of their series with the Lions. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.
