Webb and Stroup Go Back-to-Back in Mules Sweep

WARRENSBURG, Mo. (March 27, 2021) - Fans who attended Mules Baseball's doubleheader Saturday against Washburn were treated to two Mules wins in two very different games. Game one featured 22 runs as the Mules pounded their way to a win. Game two was a classic pitcher's duel with some late-game heroics by some familiar faces. Whatever kind of game you like, it was two wins for UCM as they improve to 17-4 on the season and 13-1 in the MIAA.

Game 1 - Central Missouri 12, Washburn 10
How it Happened
• The Mules jumped out on top and seemed to be in control until Washburn attempted a furious comeback. 
• Neither team had issues putting runners on base. The Ichabods totaled 15 hits in the game. The Mules scored 12 runs on seven hits.
• Defense played a big role to the Mules benefit. Of their 12 runs, five were unearned thanks to three errors. The Mules committed two errors as well, but all 10 runs were earned.
• The game started with the Ichabods jumping on the first pitch they saw from Mules starter Mason Green. Xavier De Leon laced a triple into the gap in left and scored on a ground ball.
• UCM had the opportunity for a big inning in the first, loading the bases with nobody out. They settled to tie the game at one getting just a sacrifice fly from Harrison Schnurbusch.
• The Mules scored three in the third to take a 4-1 lead. Schnurbusch again drove in runs, connecting for a two-RBI double.
• Washburn didn't quit, leading off the fourth with a solo home run. A two-out single later in the inning tied the game at four.
• Central Missouri grabbed the lead back in the fifth. They scored three runs without the ball ever leaving the infield. Two walks and a hit-batsman loaded the bases with two outs. That's when the merry-go-round started as Alex Madera poked an infield single to score one, before Micah Evans and Scott Wolverton were each hit by a pitch to bring home two more runs.
• The Mules could have broken it open in the sixth, again loading the bases with nobody out, but this time failed to bring a run across.
• They did tack on runs in the seventh. Five of them to be exact. A wild pitch and an RBI ground out scored two and then Dusty Stroup cleared the bases with a three-run home run for a 12-4 Mules lead.
• Things appeared to be in hand for the Mules, but the Ichabods made things closer scoring six in the eighth. They launched a two-run home run, two-run double and plated two more with RBI singles and suddenly it was a 12-10 game.
• Washburn finally ran out of gas in the ninth as Evan Rathburn went 1-2-3 for his fourth save of the season.

Mules Stat Leaders
• Dusty Stroup was 2-3 with a home run and three RBI.
• Harrison Schnurbusch had a hit and drove in three as well.
• Erik Webb reached base four times with two hits and two walks and scored a run.
• Josh Schumacher scored three times.
• Mason Green started and threw six innings allowing four runs on eight hits with nine strikeouts.

For the Ichabods
• Xavier De Leon was 4-4 at the plate with a triple and scored three times.
• Kros Bay drove in three runs.
• Peter Shearer homered as one of his two hits.
• Zion Bowlin was 1-5 with a home run.
• Cole Emerson had two hits and scored twice.
• Rane Pfeifer started and threw the first 4.2 innings allowing six runs on three hits. He struck out four but walked six.

Game Two - Central Missouri 3, Washburn 2
How it Happened
• Where game one lasted 3:30, game two took a crisp 2:22. 
• Washburn once again out hit the Mules 9-6.
• UCM pitchers worked out of trouble leaving nine Ichabods on base. 
• Following two scoreless innings, Donovan Ditto led off the third with a double in the right field corner. He came around to score the game's first run on Josh Schumacher's sacrifice fly.
• Some sharp defense helped keep the Ichabods off the board. Erik Webb made a diving catch with two on to end the third and save a run. Donovan Ditto then got Chase Plymell out of a jam executing an inning-ending double play in the sixth. 
• The game remained 1-0 until the eighth as pitching was dominating. Washburn grabbed the lead with a couple of two-out hits, a triple from Kros Bay to tie the game and a go-ahead single from Zion Bowlin.
• The lead didn't last though. After getting two outs, Erik Webb crushed the first pitch he saw over the left field fence to tie the game at two. Just three pitches later Dusty Stroup did the same, taking a ball deep to center to give the Mules a 3-2 lead.
• Harrison Babbitt worked a clean ninth inning and the Mules left with a doubleheader sweep.

Mules Stat Leaders
• Collin Jones didn't allow a run in five innings and struck out eight.
• Erik Webb finished 2-4 with a home run.
• Chase Plymell needed just 21 pitches to get through two innings of relief.
• Dusty Stroup homered for his only hit.
• Donovan Ditto was 1-3 with a double and a run scored.

For the Ichabods
• Washburn rode starter Brock Gilliam for eight innings. He allowed three runs on six hits and struck out nine in his complete game.
• Kros Bay tripled and drove in a run.
• Zion Bowlin and Carson Sader each picked up two hits.

News and Notes
• Erik Webb's home run in the eighth tied the MIAA career home run record at 52. He also extended his hitting streak to 17 straight games. 
• Mason Green improves to 6-0 this season and 17-0 in his UCM career. He is also now tied for 10th all-time at UCM in career strikeouts with 177.
• Dusty Stroup's eighth inning home run was the latest lead-changing home run the Mules have hit since Cole Taylor's walk-off HR on March 3, 2020. 
• The Mules winning streak now stands at 12 straight games.
• Collin Jones' eight strikeouts are a season-best.
• Harrison Babbitt picked up the first save of his career.
• Central Missouri put the leadoff hitter on in eight of 16 innings.
• Washburn hit .324 with runners on base while UCM was just 5-22 with a man on. 

Up Next
• The Mules will go for the sweep of the Ichabods tomorrow afternoon. First pitch is at 1 p.m.