CARY, N.C. (June 7, 2021) - In a game billed as powerhouse vs. powerhouse, Central Missouri landed the biggest blow defeating 2019 National Champions Tampa 8-4. The Mules got plenty of offense launching three home runs and scoring eight runs.
How it Happened
• Both teams collected double-figure hits with the Mules knocking 13 and the Spartans 12.
• Central Missouri continued to play excellent defense. This error-free game moved the Mules into first place nationally in fielding percentage.
• In the battle of the bullpens, the Mules pen pitched four scoreless innings while the Spartans gave up three runs in three innings.
• Each team left runners on base. Central Missouri stranded seven and the Spartans six.
• It took just two batters for the Mules to get on the board.
Erik Webb, who hit an inside-the-park home run in his last at bat Saturday, hit a traditional home run in his first at bat Monday.
• The lead only lasted two batters into the home half of the first. Tampa started the inning with an infield single and took the lead with a home run of their own off the bat of Drew Ehrhard for a 2-1 lead.
• UCM manufactured a run in a second.
Donovan Ditto led off with a single, stole second, moved to third as the ball was thrown into the outfield, and scored on
Gaven Strobel's safety squeeze bunt, tying the game.
• Tampa regained the lead in the third on their second home run of the game. A long shot from EJ Cumbo put the Spartans up 3-2.
• The Mules grabbed their first lead since the first inning thanks to a three-run fifth inning.
Erik Webb hit his second home run of the day and third in four at bats to even the game at three.
• With two outs and the bases empty,
Alex Madera worked a walk and
Garrett Pennington singled. A wild pitch put two in scoring position for
Donovan Ditto who came through with a two-run single to center which put the Mules up 5-3.
• Tampa looked poised to tie or take the lead in the sixth. They led off the inning with a single and a double to chase Jones from the mound.
Brady Gavin entered and got two ground outs and a pop out. One of the ground balls plated a run and brought the Spartans closer, 5-4.
• Central Missouri got some insurance in the eighth as
Garrett Pennington led off the inning with a long home run to right-centerfield.
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Josh Schumacher added to it later in the inning. UCM had runners on second and third and nobody out, but a pop up and strikeout kept them there with two outs. Schumacher came up and quickly fell behind in the count 0-2. He battled though and his single fell in front of the centerfielder, scoring two more Mule runs and running the score to 8-4.
Mules Stat Leaders
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Collin Jones got the started and battled his way through five innings allowing four runs on nine hits with four strikeouts.
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Brady Gavin pitched two perfect innings out of the bullpen getting five ground ball outs.
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Erik Webb was 2-4 with a pair of home runs. He also reached on a hit-by-pitch.
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Josh Schumacher was 1-5 but it was a big one, driving in two runs in the eighth.
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Garrett Pennington had a three-hit day with a home run and two runs scored.
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Donovan Ditto was on base four times with three hits and a walk. He drove in two and scored twice.
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Micah Evans also picked up a pair of hits, stole a base and scored a run.
For the Spartans
• Michael Paul went the first six innings on the mound allowing five runs (four earned) on nine hits with three strikeouts.
• JD Urso had a pair of hits and an RBI.
• EJ Cumbo homered as a part of a 2-5 day with two runs scored.
• Drew Erhard also homered and drove in two runs.
• Luke Glancy and Jamarcus Lyons each picked up hits.
News and Notes
• With his two home runs,
Erik Webb now has 64 for his career and moves to fifth place all-time in Division II history in career home runs.
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Collin Jones moves into the UCM all-time top-10 in career strikeouts.
• Central Missouri had the leadoff batter reach in four of nine innings while the Spartans put the leadoff man on in five innings.
• Four of the Mules eight RBI came with two outs.
• This is the third straight win for the Mules over Tampa. All three came at the Division II World Series.
• The Mules remain unbeaten this postseason, 11-0. They also improve to 34-33 at the Division II World Series.
• UCM improves to 36-1 this season when hitting at least one home run. They are unbeaten when hitting at least two home runs and also unbeaten when scoring at least six runs.
• Micah upped his reached-base streak to 43 straight games.
Quotable
Coach Crookes
Opening Statement
• What a great game. Great opponent. Great team. Both teams I thought competed real hard. Starters struggled. I don't know if struggled is the right word, really had to compete to get through five. Just trading blows back and forth and I'm happy that our guys were able to throw an extra blow, put up an extra three runs later in the game. It came from everybody. Certainly a great game and the bullpen from Tampa was good and our bullpen was trying to match them for what it was. It was a really good baseball game. Really clean. Some really good pitching. Two teams that got after it. It was fun to be a part of.
On the championship atmosphere
• I think that goes into what everybody at this facility is and what this stadium is and what this event is for all eight teams that are here. I think every game feels like that. Certainly we try to avoid being caught up into labels or teams or numbers or anything else. It's obvious you're playing a great team when you're playing Tampa with what they've done. I think the atmosphere, 6 o'clock night game with a lot on the line there was definitely an atmosphere that was palpable. I don't know how to describe it one way or another but it was charged for sure.
On the insurance runs in the eighth inning
• I think it's huge anytime you can add runs on any opponent. I think any opportunity to score runs, we want them. I think that's big. It's always going to be big regardless of who you're playing. I don't know if it helps pitchers or not, but I would think it does because it helps me. Any opportunity that our offense has to score runs we want to take advantage of that because they're tough to come by. It's tough to do. Those guys on the other side make it tougher. It was big and I think that last punch certainly helped.
Erik Webb
On the feeling of the game
• That was a high-caliber team that we played against. Their pitchers have plus stuff. I think it all boils down to both teams having great at bats, great lineups all the way through. I think that we just executed a little bit better. We had some big hits in some big hits from
Donovan Ditto and
Josh Schumacher. I think with a lineup that can hit 1-9 it's going to be hard to beat. Even with the good pitching that Tampa has we were able to come through and put together some good at bats.
On his two home run game
• I definitely prefer the trot around the bases. High-fiving (Coach) Crookes around third. I'll take what I can get. As long as I'm helping out the team, I'll take what I can get.
On how well the ball has been carrying thus far
• I am pretty surprised by that. Here in 2019, I was a part of that team and there were very few home runs that year by any team by ourselves or any team that we played. Even the first day here watching Tampa play and Trevecca Nazarene they had a couple of balls leave early so it's a bit of a surprise seeing the ball leave but I can't complain. We had couple of good at bats today.
Garrett Pennington had a great hit as well. It's definitely a different feel. It's good that we separated there at the end because Tampa had been hitting the ball well all game and getting those insurance runs towards the end helped us close out the game.
On what they'll do with their days off
• We're going to get after it. There's no easy days with us and that's what I love about Mule Ball. Coach doesn't like the word grind, but we love being out here. Practicing with this team, my last go-round, I like nothing more than to go out there and practice both days and get prepared for our third game.
Up Next
• The Mules will enjoy two days off. They'll play next on Thursday, June 10 at 6 p.m. They will play the winner of Tampa and Northwest Nazarane in the national semifinal. They'll need one win to advance to the national championship.
