Green Guides Mules to Win in Regional Opener

WARRENSBURG, Mo. (May 28, 2021) - Central Missouri got behind ace Mason Green and he led them to a game one win in the 2021 NCAA Baseball Central Regional. Green pitched a gem as the Mules defeated No. 6 seed Henderson State in their first game of the double-eliminations tournament.

How it Happened
• Mule pitchers allowed just four hits and the one run while striking out nine.
• Both teams had some opportunities to score as they each left seven on base.
• Defense played a factor with one of the two Mules runs being unearned. There were also a total of four double plays turned and one triple play.
• Henderson State kept getting out of trouble in the early going. The Mules stranded two in each of the first two innings and an inning-ending double-play got them out of the third.
• Central Missouri finally got on the board in the fourth. Micah Evans doubled down the left field line on a full count leading off the frame. One batter later, Cole Taylor knocked him in with an RBI single for a 1-0 Mules lead. But it could have been much more. Donovan Ditto followed Taylor with a single to put two on with nobody out. Harrison Schnurbusch came to the plate looking to sacrifice the runners over but hit bunt attempt was popped up between the catcher and pitcher. When the ball was dropped by the catcher, Schnurbusch was tagged out and the Reddies turned a triple play, as both runners retreated back on the pop up then broke as the ball was dropped they were caught in no-man's land to end the threat with just a single run scoring.
• UCM made it 2-0 in the fifth but again hit into an inning-ending double play with two on. Scott Wolverton singled leading off and moved to second on a passed ball. He came in to score on Josh Schumacher's RBI single. 
• The Reddies had their best chance to score in the sixth. They put two on with one out, but a slow roller to second and a nice flip by Donovan Ditto and turn by Alex Madera for a double play got Green out of the frame unharmed.
• Green threw 100 pitches through seven innings and was taken out to start the eighth. The Reddies were happy to see him go. On the second pitch of the inning Danny Mitchell, Jr. cut the lead in half with a long home run to right. Chase Plymell got the next three hitters, but we went to the ninth with the Mules leading 2-1.
• The Mules didn't score in the bottom of the inning so it was up to Evan Rathburn to save the one-run game. He struck out two and shut the door on the Reddies.

Mules Stat Leaders
• Mason Green was the star in this one. He shut the Reddies out for seven innings allowing just three runs while striking out seven.
• Josh Schumacher and Cole Taylor each had a hit and an RBI. 
• Donovan Ditto had two hits in three at bats.
• Micah Evans doubled and scored.
• Scott Wolverton reached base twice with a single and hit by pitch and scored a run.

For the Reddies
• Spencer Taack got the start and allowed two runs (one earned) on eight hits with three walks.
• Brayden Bebee and Cade Tucker combined for four hitless innings with two strikeouts. 
• Danny Mitchell, Jr. homered for the Reddies' only run.
• Joe Myers reached twice with a hit and a walk.

News and Notes
• The win is the 10th straight for the Mules. It's their second winning streak of 10+ games this season.
• Micah Evans extends his reached base streak to 38 straight games.
• Mason Green reached 200 career innings pitched. 
• With the save, Evan Rathburn moves to eighth in both career and single season saves.
• This is the Mules 109th all-time NCAA win. 
• UCM moves to 5-2 this season in one-run games.

Up Next
• The Mules will take on Arkansas Tech tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m. The Wonder Boys lost their first round game to Minnesota State, 9-8.