Mules Drop High-Scoring Game to Lions

JOPLIN, Mo. (April 6, 2019) - Fans of offense got their money worth in Joplin, Mo. for game two between the Mules and Lions. The team's combined for 34 runs and 27 hits in a 4:07 game. The slug-fest didn't go the Mules way though as they gave up a late lead and fell 17-16.

Play-by-Play
• All but one inning, the first, featured at least one run. The Mules scored in five innings and the Lions in six.
• UCM jumped all over the Lions in the second sending 11 men to the plate and scoring six runs. Alex Madera had the biggest hit of the inning, a grand slam to cap the scoring in the frame.
• The Mules weren't done and eventually opened up a 9-0 lead, scoring three more in the third. Two unearned runs scored around Cole Taylor's RBI double.
• But the Lions started to chip away. They led off the third with a home run to get on the board and added five in the fourth. A bases-clearing double and two-run home run made it a three-run game, 9-6.
• Each team scored three runs in the fifth. Harrison Schnurbusch smacked a three-run home run to left for the Mules. 
• UCM got the first two out in the bottom of the fifth before a walk and three straight doubles brought in three Lions making it a 12-9 game.
• Again though, the Mules offense answered with another three-spot. Madera and Erik Webb punched back-to-back two-baggers and UCM again led by six, 15-9.
• A bases loaded walk and double-play scored two more runs for the Lions in the sixth. 
• Cole Taylor brought the Mules total to 16 with a two-out RBI single in the seventh.
• UCM kept the Lions off the board in the seventh, but couldn't repeat that in the eighth and ninth. The Lions got to within two, 16-14, with a three-run eighth inning. An RBI ground out brought the first run in before a two-out, two-RBI ground ball single plated two more.
• Leading 16-14 in the ninth, the Mules gave up a leadoff double and a walk to start the inning. A sacrifice bunt moved the runners into scoring position, but it didn't matter as two pitches later, the Lions homered to left for a walk-off, three-run home run, ending the game at 17-16.

Mules Stat Leaders
• Alex Madera drove in five runs and finished 2-5 with a grand slam.
• Mason Janvrin was 3-4 with three runs scored.
• Harrison Schnurbusch collected two hits and two walks and drove in three with a home run.
• Michael Sinks was 3-6 with a run and an RBI.
• Cole Taylor went 2-3 with three runs scored.
• Mason Green started and went the first 3.2 innings giving up six runs (one earned) on four hits with three walks and five strikeouts.

For the Lions
• Dexter Swims was 3-4 with a home run and six runs batted in.
• Denver Coffee went 2-6 with a run scored.
• Matt Miller and Troy Gagon each scored three runs. 
• Jon Leighton was 3-4 with three runs and three RBI.
• Zak Shoemaker lasted just 1.2 innings allowing six runs (one earned) on four hits.

News and Notes
• The last time UCM was involved in a game this high-scoring was a 22-12 win over Emporia State in the MIAA Tournament, May 9, 2010.
• Of the 34 runs scored only 18 were earned runs.
• There were a combined 16 pitchers used, eight by each team, and 410 total pitches.
• Eight of the nine Mules in the lineup scored at least one run and all nine reached base at least once.
• The Mules had won each of Mason Green's last three starts.
• Both Mason Janvrin and Erik Webb extended their reached base streaks. Janvrin's is now at 32 while Webb's is at 31.
• The 16 runs scored are the most the Mules have ever scored in a loss.

Up Next
• The rubber game of the series takes place tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m.