Green's Near No-No Secures 20th Straight Win

WARRENSBURG, Mo. (April 17, 2021) - On an afternoon that saw the Mules score 21 runs in two games, it was a pitcher who truly shined. Mason Green came within a few inches of a perfect game, shutting out the Central Oklahoma Bronchos in game one. The Mules went on to sweep UCO to push their winning streak to 21 games and improve to 26-4 this season, 22-1 in the MIAA.

Game One - Central Missouri 6, Central Oklahoma 0
How it Happened
• The Mules didn't need much offense behind Mason Green. Six runs on nine hits was more than enough. 
• UCM still brought their power bats as four of their nine hits went for extra bases with two home runs, a double, and a triple.
• Once again the Mules played excellent defense, not committing an error in the field.
• The scoring started for the Mules in the second inning when Donovan Ditto singled to right to plate a pair of runs.
• That was all the support Green needed, but UCM added in the third and fourth innings. Alex Madera tripled to drive in Micah Evans in the third and Erik Webb and Dusty Stroup went back-to-back with home runs in the fourth. 
• The rest was all Green. He struck out 13 batters without issuing a walk. The only hit he allowed was an infield single to first in the third inning. Cole Taylor made a diving stop going to his right, but couldn't come up with it in time to snag the runner. That was the only baserunner Green allowed as he faced 28 batters, one over the minimum. 
• Green started out the game striking out the first five batters and picked up strikeout number 13 to start the ninth.

Mules Stat Leaders
• Mason Green went the distance for a complete game shutout. He worked all nine innings facing 28 batters, allowing no runs or walks on one infield single. He struck out 13 throwing 113 pitches.
• Erik Webb and Josh Schumacher each picked up two hits with a run. Webb launched a home run and drove in two runs.
• Dusty Stroup was 1-3 with a home run.
• Alex Madera tripled, scored and drove in a run.
• Donovan Ditto drove in two with a single.

For the Bronchos
• Luke Anderson started and allowed six runs, five earned in 6.2 innings with five strikeouts.
• Chase Freeman had the only hit for UCO.
• Lawson Isaacs pitched 1.1 innings of hitless relief. 

Game 2 - Central Missouri 15, Central Oklahoma 2 (7 Innings)
How it Happened
• Central Missouri used a pair of six-run innings to put away the Bronchos.
• UCM's offense totaled 15 runs on 12 hits, slugging five home runs.
• The Bronchos scored twice on five hits and left four on base.
• It was Donovan Ditto again getting the scoring started. In game one he scored two with a single, this time he outdid himself with a two-run home run going opposite field.
• That wasn't the only two-run homer of the second inning. Erik Webb and Micah Evans each launched two-run shots putting the Mules up 6-0.
• UCO got their two runs in the third inning on an infield single and a double steal attempt. Gaven Strobel threw out the runner attempting to steal second, while the runner at third crossed the plate.
• The Mules continued to show off their power. Harrison Schnurbusch made it 9-2 with a homer in the fourth and UCM plated another six in the fifth. Micah Evans hit his second home run of the day and Schnurbusch tripled in another. He came in to score on a wild pitch to bring the Mules to 15 runs.

Mules Stat Leaders
• Micah Evans hit a pair of home runs and drove in five runs.
• Alex Madea was 3-4 with two runs scored.
• Erik Webb homered and drove in two runs.
• Harrison Schnurbusch tripled and homered driving in four and scoring three times.
• Collin Jones threw the first six innings and gave up two runs on five hits with five strikeouts.
• Cole Young worked a scoreless seventh striking out the side.

For the Bronchos
• Joe Mondragon had a pair of hits in three at bats.
• Garrett Takamatsu had a hit and an RBI.
• Phillip Scott doubled and scored.

News and Notes
• The Mules up their winning streak to 21 games. It's the ninth time they've won at least 20 straight games and the first since 2005. Twenty-one seems to be an unlucky number for the Mules though. Of their eight previous 20+ game winning streaks, six were stopped at 21.
• Mason Green threw the first Mules complete game since Ben Kelsch in May of 2019. His 13 strikeouts are also a career-high and the most by a Mules pitcher since Carlos D'Armas also struck out 13, March 20, 2015.
• Erik Webb extended his hitting streak to 26 straight games. He also hit career home runs 58 and 59. After 30 games the Mules as a team have 59 home runs, matching Webb for his career. 
• The Mules have played five straight games without an error.
• Central Missouri allowed just six hits all afternoon and only one extra-base hit.

Up Next
• Central Missouri looks for the sweep of Central Oklahoma. First pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.