HAYS, Kan. (March 13, 2020) - Central Missouri Mules Baseball went out with a big bang yesterday in their doubleheader sweep of Fort Hays State. Unknowingly playing as season's were being canceled, the Mules swept the Tigers 24-9 and 20-4. 

Game One - Central Missouri 24, Fort Hays State 9
How it Happened
• The ball was flying out of Larks Park early and often. The Mules tied a UCM single-game high with nine home runs, done only once before against Truman State in 1994. 
• The home run barrage came quickly, taking only one pitch. Erik Webb, hitting out of the leadoff spot drove one out to left center. That home run made him the UCM career record holder as well.
• Two pitches later, Dusty Stroup followed with a deep fly as the Mules went back-to-back to lead off the game.
• The Tigers answered with three in the first and three in the second. Dusty Stroup and Michael Sinks made it consecutive innings with back-to-back home runs and after two the game was tied at six apiece.
• UCM added a run in the third and put up a five-spot in the fourth. For the third time in four innings, Stroup went deep and Webb, Cole Taylor and Alex Madera all had RBI hits. 
• Webb launched his second of the game in the fifth and Taylor and Harrison Schnurbusch gave the Mules three back-to-back home runs in the game as the Mules led 18-6.
• The Tigers scored three in the seventh to keep the game going, but that just gave the Mules another just to hit dingers. Stroup tied the UCM record with his fourth HR in the eighth as the Mules added on six runs for a 24-9 win.

Mules Stat Leaders
• Dusty Stroup was 4-6 with four home runs and seven RBI. 
• Erik Webb homered twice and was 3-5 with four runs batted in.
• Michael Sinks hit for the cycle finishing 4-5 with three runs scored and an RBI.
• Cole Taylor and Alex Madera each had three hits.
• Mason Green got the win on the mound throwing 5.1 innings and striking out eight, giving up six runs.
• Tyler Kuhlmann threw the final 2.2 innings and gave up two runs on four hits with two strikeouts.

For the Tigers
• Garrett Stephens homered and was 2-4 with two RBI.
• Tyler Olson drove in three runs going 2-4 with a home run.
• Grant Schmidt drove in a pair.
• Drake Angeron scored twice with a single and a double.

Game Two - Central Missouri 20, Fort Hays State 4
• The Mules picked up right where they left off in game one, starting game two with a six-run first inning. Harrison Schnurbusch had the biggest blast, a three-run opposite field home run. Cole Christman and Micah Evans also had RBI hits in the inning.
• FHSU plated a run in the first, but the Mules scored four more in the second and led 10-1 after two. Stroup hit his fifth home run of the day while Cole Taylor's triple and Evans' double each scored a run.
• UCM added to their lead with a run in the third and three in the fifth. Schnurbusch hit his second HR of the game in the sixth and Christman's blast in the seventh got the Mules to 20.

Mules Stat Leaders
• Harrison Schnurbusch drove in seven runs going 3-4 with two home runs.
• Cole Taylor knocked in four with three hits and two runs.
• Dusty Stroup and Micah Evans each had three hits.
• Cole Christman homered and drove in three runs.
• Jonathan Sprinkle got the win allowed three runs on four hits with seven strikeouts in 4.2 innings.
• Chase Plymell and Evan Rathburn threw scoreless innings out of the bullpen.

For the Tigers
• Griffin Brunson collected two hits.
• Drake Angeron scored twice with a hit and a walk.
• Corbin Truslow and Garrett Stephens each homered.

News and Notes
• The Mules scored 44 runs on 44 hits with 13 home runs in the doubleheader.
• Harrison Schnurbusch, Cole Taylor and Dusty Stroup all drove in eight runs.
• Erik Webb set the Mules career home run record and stands at 46.
• Stroup is the third Mule to ever hit four home runs in a game and the first since 1995.
• This is the third time in Mules history they have scored 20 runs in back to back games.