Mules Earn Series Opening Win in Colorado

Box Score COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Feb. 8, 2019) - Central Missouri scored seven unanswered to take a series opening win in Colorado over Colorado-Colorado Springs, 7-6. The win evens the Mules record up at 2-2 this season.

How it Happened
• Both teams scored in bunches with the Mountain Lions putting the first two on the board. UCM came back with seven straight before UCCS scored the last four.
• UCM scored seven runs on 11 hits and left seven on base while the Mountain Lions scored six times on nine hits with two errors and left six on. 
• The Mountain Lions opened the scoring in the third with a two-out RBI single from Evan Richards. An inning later they made it 2-0 with a Jordan Humphries home run to right to start the fourth.
• Central Missouri only scored in two innings, but they made it count. Zak Whalin and Mason Janvrin led off the fifth with singles. Erik Webb drove them both in with a deep triple to left. Harrison Schnurbusch then gave the Mules the lead for good with a sacrifice fly to center making it 3-2 UCM.
• One inning later, the Mules put up a four-spot. Alex Madera got it all started by reaching on an error. He scored when Donovan Ditto kept one just fair inside the left field line for a triple.
• Zak Whalin followed with a two-run shot to left center making it 6-2 and Webb picked up his third RBI with a double to right to score Mason Janvrin who singled.
• The action was coming in fast as Ditto, Whalin and Janvrin all had hits on the first pitch of their at bats.
• The Mules bullpen kept the Mountain Lions at bay until the final innings. UCCS got a run in the eight on a two-out single from Anderson.
• Things got dicey in the ninth when UCCS plated three. A one-out single cut the lead to 7-4. Then with two outs, Richards battled from down 0-2 to produce a two-out, two-run single to right and it was suddenly a one-run game.
• With runners on the corners and two outs, Coby Seiz entered to earn a one-out save leaving the tying run 90 feet away, striking out Anderson to end it. 

Mules Stat Leaders
• Ben Kelsch started and threw the first four innings. He allowed two runs on four hits while striking out four without issuing a walk.
• Jonathan Spinkle earned the win tossing 3.2 innings, giving up a run on two hits with five strikeouts.
• Mason Janvrin went 3-5 with two runs scored and a stolen base.
• Erik Webb drove in three going 2-5 with a double and a triple.
• Zak Whalin reached base three times with a single, home run and a walk. He scored twice and drove in two runs. 
• Alex Madera was 2-4 with a run scored.

For the Mountain Lions
• Jonathan Cowles started and cruised through four He ran into trouble in the fifth and left after 5.2 innings allowing seven runs, six earned on 10 hits with five strikeouts.
• Jordan Anderson was 2-4 at the plate with an RBI.
• Matt McDermott collected three hits going 3-4 with a double, RBI and two runs scored.
• Evan Richards drove home three runs going 2-5. 

News and Notes
• Mason Janvrin picked up his 100th career hit in the sixth inning.
• Jonathan Sprinkle set a new career-high with 3.2 innings pitched. He had never thrown more than 2.1 innings in an appearance before.
• The Mules did not commit an error in a game for the first time this season.
• Coby Seiz earned career save number four and his first this season. It is the first save for UCM in 2019.
• The 12 strikeouts are the most for Mules pitchers this season.

Up Next
• The Mules pick it up for game two of the three-game set with Colorado-Colorado Springs tomorrow afternoon with a 1 p.m. start.