HOUSTON, Texas (Jan. 29, 2021) - Central Missouri Mules Baseball started off the season with a pair of games in the 2021 Houston Winter Invitational. The Mules got down early in both and were able to come from behind in one, but were unable to in game two, splitting the pair of games.

The Mules scored five unanswered runs and came back for a 7-5 victory over Lubbock Christian. After getting down 1-0 to Arkansas-Fort Smith, the Mules took a 3-1 lead, but the Lions scored nine straight runs and went on to win 10-4.

Game 1 - Central Missouri 7, Lubbock Christian 5
How it Happened
• Central Missouri outhit the Chaps 7-2.
• Mules pitching struckout out 14 batters.
• The Mules didn't allow a hit after the third inning and neither team scored after the fourth.
• Lubbock Christian got on the board first scoring three runs four batters into the game. After a walk and a hit-by-pitch Nolan Machibroda clipped the foul pole in left for a three-run homer.
• Erik Webb got two of those runs back for the Mules in the bottom half of the inning. The Mules all-time home run leader hit his first of 2021, a long shot to left bringing the Mules within one, 3-2 after one.
• LCU tacked on in the second with a bases loaded walk and in the third with a leadoff home run.
• The Mules offense got rolling in the fourth. Harrison Schnurbusch and Cole Taylor led off with singles and Alex Madera's bunt down the first base line stayed on the chalk allowed Schnurbusch to score. 
• RBI's from Donovan Ditto and Gaven Strobel tied the game at five and Josh Schumacher untied it with a line drive home run to left. A two run shot that put the Mules ahead for the first time 7-5.
• After the fourth it was a battle of the bullpens. They each matched zeroes and the Mules kept their two-run lead in tact until the final out.
• Over the final five innings, there were just two hits combined between the two teams.

Mules Stat Leaders
• Josh Schumacher homered as a part of a two-hit day with two RBI.
• Erik Webb also homered and drove in two.
• Harrison Schnurbusch, Cole Taylor and Alex Madera all had a hit and scored a run.
• Derek Beauchamp got the win in relief throwing 2.1 innings allowing a hit on a run with a strikeout.
• Cole Young had a dominating performance striking out six batters in two innings of work.
• Tyler Kuhlman who picked up the save struck out four in two innings.

For the Chaps
• Nolan Machibroda had the biggest hit, a three-run home run in the first. He finished 1-4 with a run and three RBI.
• Cayde Ward had the only other hit for LCU, a solo home run. He also reached on a walk.
• Cannon Davis pitched 4.1 scoreless innings out of the bullpen allowing just one hit and striking out five.

Game Two - Arkansas-Fort Smith 10, Central Missouri 4
How it Happened
• UCM outhit the Lions 11-9 but also allowed five walks.
• After being so dominant in game one, the Mules bullpen allowed nine runs over the final five innings.
• The first three Lions all either put the ball in play or reached base on the first pitch. A hit by pitch, an error and a bunt pop out put runners on first and second three pitches into the game. Mason Green was mostly able to work out of the jam allowing just one of the two baserunners to score.
• Central Missouri did themselves no favors on the basepaths. The outs they gave up started in the first when Josh Schumacher was thrown out at third trying to advance on a ball in the dirt to end the inning.
• Green settled into a groove and the Mules got on the board in the third. Schumacher and Erik Webb each singled, Dusty Stroup moved them over with a bunt and Harrison Schnurbusch drove in Schumacher beating out an infield single. The Mules scored their second run on a double steal attempt. Webb crossed the plate before Schurbusch was tagged out.
• In the fifth, the Mules made it a 3-1 game as Stroup's ground ball scored Brennan vanBruesegen who led off with a walk.
• After being silent for four innings, the Lions bats came to life in the sixth. They put up a four spot tying the game on a bases loaded walk. With two outs and the bags still full, a single from Nick Anderson on an 0-2 pitch gave UAFS a 5-3 lead.
• The Mules ran into another out in the seventh inning. After Micah Evans singled and stole second, he was gunned down trying to take third after an Erik Webb fly ball to end the threat.
• The Lions tacked on in the eighth scoring three more. A walk followed by a double in the left field corner made it 6-3. With two outs and two on, Dylan Hurt legged out an infield single that allowed both runners to cross the plate. 
• Fort Smith made it a 10-3 game scoring two in the ninth on a pair of wild pitches. 
• Cole Moore raced home on a Micah Evans sac fly to reach a 10-4 final.

Mules Stat Leaders
• Josh Schumacher was 2-2 with a run scored.
• Harrison Schnurbusch picked up two hits and drove in a run.
• Cole Moore had a pinch hit single and scored a run.
• Mason Green threw the first four innings allowing a run on one hit with six strikeouts.

For the Lions
• Nico Sharp got the win out of the bullpen. He tossed two scoreless innings with three strikeouts.
• Nolan Riley went 3-3 with an RBI and two runs scored.
• Nick Anderson went 1-3 with two runs driven in.
• Brooks Sunny doubled and scored twice.

News and Notes
• Erik Webb added to his UCM all-time home run lead hitting the 47th of his career in game one.
• The win in game one was the Mules 15th straight dating back to last season.
• Mules hitters were aggressive. They didn't draw a walk in game one and only two in 17 trips to the plate.
• UCM pitchers struck out 27 batters combined.
• All five Mule pitchers who entered game two allowed a run.
• UCM outhit both opponents, and were 5-16 with runners in scoring position.

Up Next
• The Mules play two more games tomorrow in Houston. They take on St. Mary's at 2 p.m. and Arkansas Tech at 6.