WARRENSBURG, Mo. (May 11, 2018) - Central Missouri's bats stayed hot on day two of the MIAA Tournament. They pounded 15 hits and scored nine runs in their 9-2 win over Emporia State. The Mules move to 2-0 in the MIAA Tournament as they continue on in the winner's bracket.

Play-by-Play
• Because of MIAA Tournament rules, the Mules were actually the visiting team in their home park. Picking things up in the top of the second, it looked like the Hornets were going to get out of a jam when John Fairchild was thrown out at the plate after a Harrison Schnurbusch single. Two batters later though, Zak Whalin came through with a two-out RBI single to put the Mules up 1-0.
• One inning later the Mules loaded the bases with nobody out. The Hornets did a good job of limiting the damage, but UCM got a run across on a Fairchild sacrifice fly, making it 2-0.
• That lead disappeared in the third inning when the Hornets led off the frame with a single and Tate Kastens tied things at two with a home run to left. 
• Erik Webb gave the Mules for good with a memorable at bat in the fourth. After appearing to get hit by a pitch, Webb was called back to the plate. One pitch later he sent a shot deep to left that landed just foul. After getting the count full, Webb got a hold of one and set it over the fence in left for his 12th home run of the season. 
• The lead was just one run when Coby Seiz entered with two on and no out in the bottom of the fourth. Seiz kept the Hornets off the board retiring the next three batters, preserving the UCM lead. 
• Central Missouri hit their second home run of the game, a solo home run just inside the left field line and the Mules took a 4-2 lead after five innings. 
• Fast forward to the eighth with UCM still on top by just two. The Mules put three runners across the plate before an out was recorded. Mason Janvrin's RBI single got the first run in. Webb followed that with an RBI single to center and Janvrin came around to score the third run on Travis Able's squeeze bunt.
• UCM wasn't done though, putting up two more in the ninth. Donovan Ditto went to the opposite field for a long double to right to score Fairchild. Whalin followed Ditto with an RBI single to score Justin Graff-Rowe with the Mules ninth and final run.

Mules Stat Leaders
• Erik Webb finished 2-4 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored.
• Harrison Schnurbusch had another three hit day going 3-4 with a home run and three runs scored.
• Zak Whalin and Travis Able each collected three hits. Whalin had two RBI while Able drove in one.
• Donovan Ditto went 2-4 with a run scoring double.
• Coby Seiz got the win for UCM. He pitched three shutout innings of relief allowing a hit and three walks with two strikeouts.
• Ben Kelsch got the start and threw the first three innings. He gave up two runs on two hits with a strikeout and three walks.

For the Hornets
• Tate Kastens reached base twice with a hit and a walk. He had a home run and both RBI.
• Kaden Shaffer walked twice.
• Kyle Lopez had a hit and a walk.
• Tanner Cairnes started and pitched 2.1 innings giving up two runs on five hits with a walk and a strikeout.

News and Notes
• The Mules knocked 15 hits and reached double-figure hits for the second straight game.
• Seven different Mules had at least one hit and one RBI.
• UCM pitching held the Hornets to just four hits after they picked up 16 the day before.
• Harrison Schnurbusch now has six hits in two MIAA Tournament games.
• Zak Whalin has five RBI to lead the Mules in the MIAA Tournament.
• The Mules 7-8-9 hitters went a combined 8-13 with four runs and four runs batted in.

Up Next
• The Mules next game will be at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow night. Their opponent is still to be determined.