JOPLIN, Mo. (May 22, 2021) - Central Missouri Mules baseball won all three games in Joplin, claiming the 2021 MIAA Baseball Tournament Championship. In the championship game, the Mules defeated Pittsburg State 11-2 to win the trophy.
After going 2-0 in the best-of-three series last week against Emporia State, the Mules were 3-0 this week in the championship games in Joplin. They defeated Pittsburg State twice, including for the championship and Central Oklahoma.
How it Happened
• The Mules scored 11 runs on 15 hits and plated runs in five different innings they took a turn at bat.
• Five of the Mules 15 hits were for extra bases and UCM also stole five bases.
• Mule pitchers allowed just two runs on four hits and struck out 13.
• Central Missouri played a clean game defensively. They didn't commit an error in any of the three games in Joplin.
• The Mules were the visiting team. In their first trip to bat,
Josh Schumacher led off the game with a double. He scored on
Dusty Stroup's two-run home run and the Mules were up 2-0 before the Gorillas came to bat.
• Pitt State got a run back in the bottom of the inning scoring on an RBI double.
• UCM broke the game open with a four-run third inning. Stroup plated his third run with an RBI double.
Alex Madera,
Cole Taylor and
Donovan Ditto all drove in runs in the inning.
• In the fifth with
Micah Evans on third and two outs, he got a huge jump, broke for the plate and executed a straight steal of home, one of the most exciting plays in baseball and the Mules led 7-1.
• PSU scored their second run in the fifth, but the Mules responded with three more in the sixth. Madera and Evans had clutch two-out hits to drive in three runs for a 10-2 Mules lead.
• UCM got their final run on
Scott Wolverton's RBI double bringing in
Garrett Pennington.
•
Harrison Babbitt issued a leadoff walk in the ninth, but ended the game with a 5-4-3 double play.
Mules Stat Leaders
•
Dusty Stroup was 2-4 with three RBI, three runs and a home run.
•
Alex Madera picked up three hits and scored twice with two RBI.
•
Micah Evans collected two hits and stole two bases. He also scored twice and drove in two.
•
Donovan Ditto knocked three hits with an RBI.
•
Josh Schumacher was 2-5 with a pair of doubled and two runs scored.
•
Conor Dryer allowed two runs in five innings of work with seven strikeouts.
For the Gorillas
• Clay Westbrooks started and allowed four runs in 2.1 innings of work.
• Zach Curry threw three innings in relief allowing four runs on five hits.
• Cruz Aranda was 2-4 with a run and an RBI.
• Aaron Gerdes doubled and drove in a run.
News and Notes
• This is the Mules 24th MIAA Tournament Championship. They've won 20 of the last 27.
• Central Missouri picked up the MIAA regular season and tournament championships.
• Following the tournament,
Josh Schumacher was named the Tournament Most Outstanding Player.
Dusty Stroup,
Harrison Schnurbusch,
Donovan Ditto and
Mason Green all made the All-Tournament team.
•
Conor Dryer struck out his 100th career batter.
• The Mules outscored their opponents 31-14 in three games in Joplin.
• UCM's bullpen threw four hitless innings in relief.
Cole Young,
Hunter Little,
Grayson Senn, and
Harrison Babbitt each worked a scoreless inning.
Up Next
• With their win in the MIAA Tournament, the Mules earned the MIAA automatic bid to the NCAA Central Region, which they are hosting. The Mules will find out opponent and seed tomorrow evening during the NCAA selection show at 9 p.m.
