Mules Celebrate Senior Day With Pair of Run-Rule Wins

WARRENSBURG, Mo. (May 7, 2021) - Central Missouri Mules Baseball finished off the regular season and Missouri Western with a pair of run-rule wins to sweep the series. UCM ends the season at 34-6 on the season and 30-3 in the MIAA.

Game 1 - Central Missouri 15, Missouri Western 4 (8 Innings)
How it Happened
• Central Missouri busted out their bats clubbing 18 hits in eight innings. The Griffons were held to just seven base hits.
• UCM connected for eight extra base hits with five doubles, two home runs and a triple.
• Missouri Western struck out 10 times at the plate while UCM fanned just four times.
• The Mules scored in each of the first four innings. Josh Schumacher led off the home half of the first with an opposite field double. He came in to score on Dusty Stroup's RBI single. After Stroup moved up on a pair of wild pitches, Micah Evans brought him in with a single for a 2-0 lead.
• UCM doubled up in the second. Harrison Schnurbusch led off the frame with a double and scored on Scott Wolverton's infield single. Wolverton then came in to score on Erik Webb's sacrifice fly, the first of three sac flies for Webb in the doubleheader. 
• The Mules again doubled their run total, this time scoring four times in the third. Another leadoff extra-base hit started the inning. This time it was Micah Evans leading off with a triple. Cole Taylor then drove him in with a double and Alex Madera picked him up with a single. Josh Schumacher drove in two more with a two-RBI single and the Mules led 8-0 after three.
• Missouri Western finally got on the board with a bases loaded fielder's choice. UCM got that run back and then some in the fourth, scoring three times in the inning. Taylor, Madera and Donovan Ditto all had RBI hits.
• In the fifth, Missouri Western added three runs smacking a pair of home runs. They then kept the Mules scoreless for three straight until the eighth. MWSU threatened to make the game closer loading the bases with no outs, but Grayson Senn got out of the jam unharmed.
• Central Missouri played long ball to end the game. John Prudhom and Harrison Schnurbusch each hit two-run homers in the inning to end the game after eight, 15-4.

Mules Stat Leaders
• Alex Madera was 3-5 with two RBI and three runs scored.
• Harrison Schnurbusch homered and drove in two runs going 2-5.
• Micah Evans and Cole Taylor each had two hits and two runs scored.
• Josh Schumacher reached base three times with two hits and a walk and drove in two.
• Mason Green got the start going the first four innings allowing a run on two hits with six strikeouts.

For the Griffons
• Alex Crouch was 2-5 with a run scored.
• Gustavo Gonzalez homered and was 1-5.
• Bailey Crump drove in a pair with a home run.
• Brock Wrolstad started and threw the first three innings allowing eight runs on 10 hits.

Game Two - Central Missouri 13, Missouri Western 2
How it Happened
• Mules pitchers dominated the Western lineup allowing two runs on five hits with eight strikeouts.
• The Mules collected 15 hits to go along with three walks and three hit by pitches.
• After a two-error game one, the Mules were clean defensively in game two.
• A two-out solo home run got the scoring started for Missouri Western as Alex Crouch went deep for a 1-0 lead.
• That lead didn't last long as the Mules answered right away for three in the bottom of the inning. Erik Webb tied the game with a sacrifice fly driving in Josh Schumacher who led off with a double. Dusty Stroup followed with a solo home run for a 2-1 Mules lead and they never trailed again. Alex Madera reached on an error allowing Micah Evans to score for the third Mules run of the inning.
• UCM padded their lead with another three-spot in the second and it was Dusty Stroup with another long fly. His second home run of the game made it a 6-1 Mules lead.
• Harrison Schnurbusch made it 8-1 after three driving in Alex Madera and Cole Taylor with a single up the middle.
• Missouri Western plated a run in the fourth getting an RBI single from Ben Tsui.
• The Mules finished the game putting up five runs in the sixth. Josh Schumacher led off the inning with a home run to right. Dusty Stroup, Micah Evans and Donovan Ditto all had RBI singles to score three runs for a 12-2 lead. A bases loaded walk from Schumacher brought in Harrison Schnurbusch with the Mules fifth run of the inning.
• Collon Jones then finished the Griffons off 1-2-3 in the seventh for the three-inning save.

Mules Stat Leaders
• Dusty Stroup was 3-4 with two home runs and four RBI.
• Josh Schumacher reached base four times with two hits, a walk and hit by pitch. He scored twice and drove in two. 
• Donovan Ditto finished 2-4  with a run and an RBI.
• Micah Evans picked up three hits and scored twice.
• Conor Dryer got the start and pitched the first four innings for the win. He struck out four allowing two runs on four hits.
• Collin Jones finished the game pitching the final three innings for the save. He allowed just one hit and struck out four.

For the Griffons
• Ben Tsui went 2-3 with an RBI.
• Alex Crouch had a home run in the first inning.
• Bailey Crump was 2-3 and scored a run.
• Jordan Akins gave up eight runs (seven earned) on nine hits.

News and Notes
• The Mules finished the MIAA regular season with 30 wins. It's the sixth time in Mules history they've reached 30 conference wins and first since 2016.
• The three MIAA losses are the fewest in a full MIAA regular season since losing two in 2003.
• All nine Mules starters had a hit in each game and six Mules had multiple hits in game one.
• Dusty Stroup had three home runs in the series giving him 28 for his career as he moves to eighth all-time at UCM.
• Mason Green joined the Mules all-time top-10 picking up his 22nd career win on the mound.
• Collin Jones earned his third career save and first since 2020.
• Micah Evans and Cole Taylor scored their 100th career runs.
• The Mules celebrated senior night following the doubleheader, honoring 16 seniors.

Up Next
• The Mules knew they would be the number one seed in the MIAA Tournament starting next week. They now know their opponent will be Emporia State. UCM and Hornets will play a best-of-three series starting Friday, May 14.