Bearcats Snap Mules Win Streak at 24

WARRENSBURG, Mo. (April 25, 2021) - Central Missouri Mules Baseball saw a pair of extended streaks snapped Sunday afternoon. The Mules suffered their first loss after winning 24 straight, 4-2 to Northwest Missouri. The 24-game winning streak will go down as the second longest in Mules history. UCM now stands at 29-5 this season, 25-2 in the MIAA.

How it Happened
• The Mules got good pitching, allowing just four runs (three earned) on seven hits. The Bearcats pitchers answered allowing two runs on seven hits and left seven Mule runners on base.
• On an afternoon where the wind was blowing in at 15-20 mph, the Mules put a lot of balls in the air hitting into 17 fly ball outs.
• After committing an error in each game of yesterday's doubleheader, the Mules were once again clean on defense. 
• All seven of the Mules hits were singles.
• Northwest Missouri scored the first run of the game in the second inning. A leadoff double came in to score on a ground out and NWMSU led 1-0 after two.
• The score stayed 1-0 until the sixth. The Bearcats started the inning with back-to-back singles and each moved up on a passed ball. A hard one-hopper that ticked off of Cole Taylor's glove at first base scored one run. With runners on the corners, a comebacker back to the pitcher scored a run as Hunter Little looked to turn two, but only got one as a run scored. With two outs, a double to right center scored the third run of the inning, but the fourth was thrown out at the plate - Micah Evans to Donovan Ditto to Scott Wolverton with a perfect relay to end the inning.
• UCM got one of those runs back in the bottom of the sixth. With two outs, Dusty Stroup kept the inning going with a single. Then Micah Evans skied one a mile high on the infield, but no one took charge and it fell in for a hit allowing Stroup to score.
• Central Missouri brought the tying run to the plate in the eighth and ninth innings. Carter Young pinch hit to lead off the eighth and reached on a single. Josh Schumacher walked behind him. Erik Webb moved the runners up with a bunt. Dusty Stroup scored Young with a sacrifice fly to cut the Bearcat lead in half, 4-2, but that was the only run to score in the inning.
• With one out, the Mules got the tying run on base in the ninth, but back to back fly outs ended the game. 

Mules Stat Leaders
• Conor Dryer worked the first five innings for the Mules allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits with four strikeouts.
• Dusty Stroup had two hits, an RBI and a run scored.
• Carter Young pinch hit and scored a run.
• Evan Rathburn worked two scoreless innings in relief with two strikeouts.
• Micah Evans had a hit and an RBI. 

For the Bearcats
• Starter Alex Slocum tossed the first seven innings and allowed two runs, one earned with two strikeouts.
• Blaine Hanf walked two and gave up a hit in two innings but got the save.
• Tyler Peters was 2-4 with two RBI.
• Ryan Koski had a hit, RBI and scored twice.

News and Notes
• The loss means the 1996 Mules record of 27 straight wins still stands.
• Erik Webb went 0-3 snapping his hitting streak at 29 games. It was longest of his career and three behind the Mules all-time record.
• The Northwest starter Slocom hadn't started all season and was working as their closer with five saves on the year.
• Evan Rathburn tossed his 50th career inning on the mound. 
• The Bearcats got the first run in all three games of the series. 
• The Mules will clinch the MIAA regular season with one more win next weekend, or a loss by Northeastern State who wraps up their series with Emporia State Sunday and Monday afternoon after being rained out Saturday.

Up Next
• The Mules will be on the road next weekend to take on Northeastern State in Tahlequah, Okla. May 1-2.