WARRENSBURG, Mo. (April 29, 2018) - Central Missouri Mules Baseball scored just one run in their series finale against the Missouri Southern Lions but it was all they needed as they held on for a 1-0 win Sunday afternoon in the regular season home finale. With the win, the Mules improve to 32-13 overall and 23-10 in the MIAA.
Play-by-Play
• The game's only run came in the bottom of the eighth, but both teams had a few opportunities to score prior to the Mules taking the lead.
• In the the top of the seventh, the Lions (24-23, 12-21 MIAA) got runners on first and second with one out and threatened to score.
Brandon Reid then got a strikeout and forced a groundout to end the top of the seventh.
• UCM also threatened to score in the seventh.
Collin Nevil was hit by pitch to get on and immediately stole second to get in scoring position with one out. MSSU kept Nevil stranded as
John Fairchild struck out and
Justin Graff-Rowe lined out to second base.
• The Lions once again had a chance to score in the top of the eighth. Cory Canterbury got on base on a fielder's choice and then stole second base. Mike Million got him to third with a single through the right side, but a Alec Alvarez flew out to left field to leave the runner stranded.
• The game's lone run came in the bottom of the eighth.
Harrison Schnurbusch was walked to leadoff and made it to second on a
Donovan Ditto sacrifice bunt.
Zak Whalin then grounded out to advance him to third.
Mason Janvrin wasted little time plating home Schnurbusch with a RBI single to center field on the first pitch.
•
Coby Seiz and
Luke Mercer worked the eighth and nine innings on the hill, respectively, to close out the game and give the Mules the series and their 20th home win of the season.
Mules Stat Leaders
• Reid worked seven innings on the mound for the Mules in his start. He gave up just five hits and fanned five batters, while allowing just two walks.
• Janvrin finished 1-4 and had the game-winning RBI for the Mules.
• Both Schnurbusch and Ditto went 1-2, while Schnurbusch had a run scored.
• Seiz picked up the win on the hill to improve to 3-1 on the year.
• Mercer earned save No. 9 of the year after closing out the ninth.
For the Lions
• Starting pitcher Zac Shoemaker pitched 7.2 innings for MSSU. He gave up four hits and allowed the game's only run, but had a game-high six strikeouts.
• Denver Coffee and Richard Fullerton both went 2-3 to lead the Lions in hits.
• Joe Kinder was 1-3 in the game and drew a walk.
• Johnny Balsamo also went 1-3 on the day.
News and Notes
• The Mules finish the regular season with a 20-4 record at Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field. Their 20 home wins are the most won under
Kyle Crookes and they are now 67-16 at home under him.
• UCM is now 9-0 when holding opponents between 0-2 runs in a game. It is also UCM's first win this season when scoring less than two runs.
• Reid's seven innings pitched is a career-high in his time at UCM. He has now struck out at least two batters in his last seven games pitched.
• Mercer's ninth save is now seventh-most in a single season in Mules Baseball History. He needs just one more to reach 10 and move into a tie for sixth.
• The Mules 1-0 win on Sunday is their second shutout win of the season.
• The Mules will be home again this year, but it will be in the postseason. Central Missouri will host the 2018 MIAA Baseball Championship Tournament at Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field this May 10-13.
Up Next
• The regular season series finale. The Mules will hit the road to Tahlequah, Okla. for their final three-game set of the regular season. They will take on the Northeastern State RiverHawks May 4-6. Games times are set for 3 p.m., 2 p.m., and 1 p.m., respectively.
