Mules Take Rubber Game Over Rogers State

CLAREMORE, Okla. Feb. 28, 2021) - Central Missouri's bats came alive in the rubber game of a three-game set with Rogers State. The Mules broke the game open in the fourth and fifth inning, jumping out to a 6-0 lead and going on to win 9-4. The win puts the Mules at 6-4 on the season and 2-1 in the MIAA.

How it Happened
• Central Missouri collected 14 hits, seven of them for extra bases.
• Rogers State picked up 11 hits of their own, but stranded 12 base runners as Mules pitchers worked out of trouble.
• UCM played error free defense in the field to back up the Mules pitching.
• After facing the minimum through three innings, helped out by two double-plays, Rogers State finally couldn't keep the Mules off the board. Josh Schumacher ripped one down the right field line and over the fence for a home run to lead off the inning.
• Erik Webb and Dusty Stroup each followed with hits and a sacrifice fly and a Cole Taylor single plated two more for UCM.
• The Mules doubled up in the fifth scoring three more runs. All with two outs, the Mules had five straight batters reach. Scott Wolverton's walk opened the flood gates in the inning. Webb and Stroup followed with RBI hits. Stroup's two-RBI double the biggest of the inning. 
• The Hillcats gave the Mules a scare scoring four in the bottom of the sixth. Skylar Nelson hit a two-run homer as a part of the inning, getting RSU within two.
• The Mules bullpen kept it that way and the Mules tacked on insurance runs in the ninth. Wolverton and Webb each hit solo home runs and Taylor knocked an RBI double as the Mules went on to win 9-4.

Mules Stat Leaders
• Erik Webb picked up four of the 14 hits with a home run, RBI and three runs scored.
• Josh Schumacher was 2-5 with a home run, RBI and two runs scored.
• Dusty Stroup drove in a pair on two hits.
• Scott Wolverton homered and scored twice.
• Conor Dryer tossed 5.1 innings allowing three runs on seven hits with six strikeouts.
• Evan Rathburn threw 2.2 hitless innings with three strikeouts in relief. 

For the Hillcats
• Kyle Simms was 3-3 on the day.
• Skylar Nelson had a homerun and walked twice with two RBI.
• Jerry Davis finished 1-4 with a run and and RBI.
• Corey Murphy threw the first 4.2 innings. He allowed six runs on seven hits.
• Nick Marinac didn't allow a run in 2.2 scoreless innings of relief.

News and Notes
• The Mules 14 hits are a season-high.
• Conor Dryer's 5.1 innings pitched and six strikeouts are also season-bests.
• Eight of the nine Mules in the lineup had at least one hit.
• Scott Wolverton's home run was his first as a Mule.
• The Mules clean defensive game broke a six-game streak with at least one error. 

Up Next
• The Mules will start a six-game home stand starting next weekend with a double-header against Newman.