WARRENSBURG, Mo. (March 11, 2021) - Central Missouri Mules Baseball was back on the field for a doubleheader Thursday afternoon against Fort Hays State. The Mules threw a shutout in game one before picking up game two for the sweep, 8-5.

Game 1: Central Missouri 9, Fort Hays State 0
How it Happened
• Central Missouri knocked 13 hits, with a pair of home runs. Fort Hays was limited to just four hits.
• Mule pitchers struck out 12 batters while UCM batters struck out only twice. 
• Both teams went hitless through two innings before the Mules got on the board in the third. Josh Schumacher drove in a run scoring Scott Wolverton.
• Mason Green was dealing to start, striking out six through the first two innings.
• UCM exploded in the fourth scoring five runs. Garrett Pennington got the inning started leading it off with a solo home run. Micah Evans drove in a run with a single and Scott Wolverton had a three-run home run that scraped over the wall in right field to put UCM up 5-0.
• Central Missouri tacked on three runs in the sixth on three singles. Schumacher, Erik Webb and Pennington all had RBI hits in the inning.
• The Mules bullpen did the rest with Max Abramovich, Derek Beauchamp and Cole Young threw four scoreless innings in relief. 

Mules Stat Leaders
• Mason Green got the start and blanked the Tigers for five innings. He struck out seven allowing just three hits.
• Josh Schumacher drove in a pair of runs and finished the game 3-4 with a run scored.
• Micah Evans picked up three singles with a stolen base, RBI and two runs scored.
• Scott Wolverton reached base three times with a single and a home run. He scored three times and drove in three runs.
• Derek Beauchamp threw scoreless innings in relief with two strikeouts.
• Garrett Pennington launched a solo home run and drove in a pair of runs on two hits.

For the Tigers
• Jayce Meyer started and let up six runs on eight hits.
• Jake Steinbring allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits in 2.2 innings of relief.
• Jacob Bouzide had a hit in two official plate appearances.
• Griffin Brunson had a double in three at bats.

Game Two - Central Missouri 8, Fort Hays State 5
How it Happened
• Fort Hays State didn't waste any time scoring in game two. A two-out single and a home run gave the Tigers a 2-0 lead before the Mules came to bat.
• UCM got one of those runs back in the first on a Garrett Pennington sacrifice fly, but FHSU put up another two runs in the second on a two-run double down the left field line.
• Trailing 4-1, the Mules scored five in the home half of the second. Gaven Strobel and Erik Webb had two-RBI hits in the inning and Pennington picked up another RBI with a single through the right side. 
• UCM tacked on a run in the third. Alex Madera led off with a triple and Micah Evans brought him in with a ground ball for a 7-4 Mules lead.
• FHSU made it a two-run game once again with a two-out RBI double in the fifth. 
• Strobel led off the eighth with a solo shot on the first pitch he saw.
• Evan Rathburn threw a 1-2-3 ninth to pick up the save.

Mules Stat Leaders
• Strobel finished the afternoon 3-4 with two runs and three RBI including a solo home run.
• Garrett Pennington drove in two runs on two hits.
• Alex Madera picked up a pair of hits and scored twice.
• Erik Webb scored two runs and drove in two more with a double.
• Collin Jones threw the first 4.2 innings for the Mules. He gave up five runs on seventh hits with five strikeouts.
• Hunter Little needed just one out to secure the win.
• Chase Plymell threw two scoreless innings in relief.

For the Tigers
• Conner Kessler had three hits in four at bats and scored a run.
• Griffon Brunson had a single, double and two RBI.
• Garrett Stephens homered and drove in two runs.
• Jacob Ensz threw 4.2 innings of relief allowing one run on three hits with four strikeouts.

News and Notes
• Erik Webb's two hits move him into a tie for third place all-time at UCM.
• Collin Jones threw his 150th career inning on the mound.
• Evan Rathburn's save was his third this season.
• The Mules bullpen didn't allow a run in 8.1 innings of work.
• Central Missouri hit .346 with runners in scoring position.
• The Tigers got the leadoff hitter on in just four of 18 innings. 

Up Next
• The Mules will look to finish off the series with the Tigers tomorrow. Game time has been moved up to 10:30 a.m.