CARY, N.C. (June 5, 2019) - On elimination Wednesday, Central Missouri punched their ticket to the National Semifinals with an 11-3 win over Ashland. The Mules totaled 19 hits and
Mason Green went seven innings for the Mules 45th win of the season.
Play-by-Play
• With two outs and nobody on in the first,
Erik Webb kept the inning alive with a bloop single. That started a string of three straight two-out hits as
Harrison Schnurbusch and
Josh Schumacher each followed with singles. The latter of which drove in two, including Schnurbusch who never stopped running and scored from first.
• Some self-inflicted damage in the second put three unearned runs on the board for the Eagles. Two hits and two errors allowed three runs to cross the plate for a 3-2 Ashland lead.
• The Mules responded with three of their own in the home half of the second. It started with a one-out walk from
Zak Whalin. He moved to second on a wild pitch and an infield single from
Micah Evans put runners on the corners.
•
Mason Janvrin was gifted new life after a dropped foul ball and made the Eagles pay. He laced a triple to the opposite field corner, putting the Mules back in front 4-3. Janvrin then scored to make it 5-3 on an RBI ground out from
Alex Madera.
• The Mules added a run in the fourth without sending a ball to the outfield. A walk and three infield singles saw
Micah Evans score with the Mules seventh run.
• UCM had a chances to break it open in the third and the fifth. They had runners in scoring position in both of those innings, but settled for just one run that crossed on a balk from Ashland relief pitcher Chris Slavik.
• They finally cashed in in the sixth scoring three runs on four hits.
Erik Webb led off the frame with a solo home run.
•
Michael Sinks and
Zak Whalin each had RBI doubles to give the Mules a 10-3 lead after six.
• Sinks capped the scoring for UCM with an RBI single to drive in
Josh Schumacher who doubled with one out in the eigth.
•
Chase Plymell came in to throw two perfect innings to close the game.
Mules Stat Leaders
•
Mason Green got the start and settled in to have one of his best starts of the season. He lasted seven innings and allowed three unearned runs on three hits with a career-high tying 12 strikeouts.
• Big day for
Josh Schumacher. He was 4-5 with three RBI and a run scored.
•
Erik Webb homered as a part of a three-hit day. He drove in a run and scored twice.
•
Michael Sinks returned to action to pick up three hits in four at bats with two RBI and a run scored.
•
Harrison Schnurbusch scored twice with three singles.
•
Mason Janvrin and
Micah Evans each collected a pair of hits. Janvrin drove in two while Evans scored twice.
For the Eagles
• Austin Elfrid was 1-4 with an RBI.
• Michael Rogers scored a run and drew a walk.
• Matt Littrell and Sam Hawley each had a hit.
• Josh Smith got the start and lasted 2.2 innings allowing six runs (five earned) on seven hits with two walks.
• Chris Slavik also threw 2.2 innings and gave up four runs on nine hits while striking out four.
News and Notes
•
Mason Green picked up career strikeout number 100.
•
Erik Webb's home run in the sixth was his 21st of the season and the 38th of his career. That puts him in sole possession of second all-time at UCM for a career and a single season.
• Webb's home run was also the Mules first in Cary.
• Big day for
Mason Janvrin. Not only did he have a pair of hits, he was selected in the 14th round of the MLB Draft. He was also named the CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year for Baseball.
• This is the first time since 2008 that the Mules have advanced to the national semifinals.
• The 3-4-5-6 hitters in the Mules order were a combined 13-19.
• This was
Josh Schumacher's first career four-hit game.
• UCM improves to 5-0 all-time against Ashland with three wins coming at the National Championship.
• The Mules put the leadoff hitter on base in five of eight innings. They were 13-28 with runners on base and 9-20 with runners in scoring position.
• The 19 hits for the Mules matches their second most in a game this season. They now have 41 in three games at the National Championship.
Quoteable
Coach Crookes
Opening Statement: Sham-wow! It's an early way to start a day, certainly, but a good way to get the game in and have our guys compete that way. I thought we made ourselves some trouble in the second inning, which created some energy, some opportunity for them but Mason [Green] did a good job of settling us down and I thought the offense did a great job of coming back and continuing to add runs and being relentless with their approach, not taking their foot off the gas. Credit goes to the players. They stayed on it even when we created some issues for ourselves. They were able to separate and they were able to keep their foot on the gas. Mason [Green] made all those runs stick from the second inning on. It was a great start from him and we're really proud of the effort that everybody put in today.
On putting pressure on the other team: I can't put myself in their shoes and know what they felt, but this team is that [aggressive]. That's what we've worked on being, that's what they've worked on being. I think it's part of who we are as a group. It's part of our identity. The players have done a tremendous job of wrapping their arms around that and I think that's how we play. The hope and the desire is to put pressure on the other teams and to me, that's a fun way to play. I hope they enjoy playing that way. and if they keep doing it and keep enjoying it, then that's when things are going well.
Mason Green
On his start today: I didn't have my slider early on, that was one of the biggest things. But I knew early on if I could get my fastball working and put it where I wanted, they weren't going to touch it. They weren't going to barrel balls very hard. The biggest thing for me which is commanding two pitches at that point and giving our guys on the offensive side a chance to win a ball game. I know they're going to do it. Whether it's early in the game, late in the game, I know that they're going to put up runs for me to go support.
On regrouping after some early struggles: It probably took me until the end of the second. We do a lot of breathing work. I have confidence. We make errors, it isn't a big deal. It's going to happen in baseball. We don't play on a natural surface like the field here, so it's one of those things we have to get used to.
Harrison Schnurbusch
On his success at the plate: I've been a getting a lot of good pitches to hit. I'm trying not to do too much. I've really shortened my approach to try and put the barrel on the ball and good things are happening.
Erik Webb
On his home run: I'm not usually good at recognizing pitches. I got an inside fastball. In Alex [Madera's] at bat before me, I believe he got three or four straight sliders or off-speed pitches. So I was looking for that. He threw that in the dirt on the first pitch and came back with I believe a fastball. I just tried to put a good barrel on it. He threw an inside fastball and I bought into it. I got my barrel out front and did what I could with the pitch. I was sitting outside fastball there.
On hitting being contagious: It definitely does [get contagious]. With Mason [Janvrin] leading off for us he's had an outstanding season so far. He continues to amaze us. He's an incredible hitter. Then you have Alex [Madera] he's a big contact hitter, really hard to strike out. With those two guys in front of me I know it's tough for a pitcher to get around them. Then they come to me and they're thinking about Mason on the base-path, Kike on the base-path. Then with Harrison [Schnurbusch] behind me, he can do some damage too with guys on. So in my position, with those guys in front of me and behind me, it makes my job a lot easier.
Mason Janvrin
On being drafted: It's hard to not be thinking that during the game, but I tried my best focus on taking at bats and getting my prep-steps in the outfield. I found out in the bottom of the eighth inning as I was in the hole. I don't remember exactly who said it, coach or someone. It was just all your hard work coming together in one moment. The happiness obviously, relief, that sort of thing.
Up Next
The Mules will have a rematch with No. 1 seed Colorado Mesa Thursday, June 6 at 7 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. CT. In order to make the the championship, the Mules need to defeat the Mavericks both Thursday and again on Friday.
