Mules Take Series Finale 7-5 Over Northwest

MARYVILLE, Mo. (April 7, 2018) - Looking to salvage the series with Northwest Missouri, Central Missouri Mules Baseball got ahead early and held on for a 7-5 win. The win puts UCM at 26-9 this season and 17-7 in the MIAA.

Play-by-Play
• The Mules got on top early by scoring in each of the first three innings. Travis Able put UCM ahead 2-0 just three batters into the game with a home run to center.
• An inning later, it was Able again, scoring Erik Webb with a two-out RBI single.
• The Mules took a 4-0 lead when Zak Whalin singled to right to score John Fairchild. One batter later, Mason Janvrin made it 5-0 with a sacrifice fly to score Donovan Ditto.
• Mules starter Ben Kelsch kept the Bearcats off the board for the first two innings, but NWMSU got on the board with a run in the third. Landon Figg's ground ball found a hole and Hudson Bilodeau scored, making it 5-1.
• In the fifth, UCM took a five-run lead again when Janvrin went to the opposite field for an RBI single as Harrison Schnurbusch scampered home.
• Northwest didn't quit though. In fact, they scored four unanswered runs. They got three in the fifth, the first two on a two-RBI single from Mondesi Gutierrez. Bilodeau scored his second run as Figg's sacrifice fly made it a 6-4 game.
• After a scoreless 6th and 7th inning, Aaron Barratt got NWMSU within one knocking a solo home run to left..
• UCM put an insurance run on the board as Collin Nevil singled and scored on a Bearcat error.
• Luke Mercer pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to record the save for the Mules.

Mules Stat Leaders
• Travis Able drove in three of the Mules runs going 2-4 with a single and a home run.
• Mason Janvrin went 2-4 with two RBI and a stolen base.
• John Fairchild also picked up two hits and scored a run.
• Ben Kelsch got the start and pitched the first five innings. He earned the win allowing four runs on six hits with four strikeouts.
• Collin Jones came out of the bullpen to throw three innings and allowed a run on three hits with three punchouts.
• Luke Mercer pitched a perfect ninth for the save. 

For the Bearcats
• Hudson Bilodeau was 3-4 from the leadoff spot with two runs scored.
• Mondesi Gutierrez and Landon Figg each drove in two runs.
• Aaron Barratt went 2-4 with a home run.
• Quinton VanAckeren came out of the bullpen after just two batters. He pitched 5.1 innings and gave up four runs (three earned) on eight hits with two strikeouts.
• Jacob Wagner pitched the final three innings and gave up an unearned run while striking out four.

News and Notes
• Central Missouri avoided being swept for the first time this season.
• The Mules got 11 hits from eight different spots in the lineup.
• UCM scored in each of the first three innings, and just two runs in final six.
• Mercer's save was his eighth of the season. He needed just seven pitches to work the ninth. His eight saves this season are tied for the seventh most in a single season in UCM history. 
• The Mules win ties Central Oklahoma for the most in the MIAA with 17. 

Up Next
• The Mules will play their makeup with Missouri S&T Tuesday, April 10. First pitch from Rolla, Mo. is scheduled for 1 p.m.