WARRENSBURG, Mo. – Isaiah Pani hit an RBI triple in the bottom of the eighth inning to break a 4-4 tie and help No. 6 Central Missouri Mules baseball defat Rogers State, 5-4, Sunday afternoon, March 27, at Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field.
With the victory, the Mules (22-3, 16-0 MIAA) extend their winning streak to 17 games and notch their fifth straight series sweep over and opponent.
With the game knotted, 4-4, in the bottom of the eighth,
Jack Schark hit a one-out single through the left side to get on base before Pani followed with what proved to be the game-winning hit, plating Schark on a triple down the right field line for the 5-4 advantage.
Pani finished 2-for-3 with his triple and two RBIs while Schark went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, and
John Prudhom and
Garrett Pennington each hit doubles, pacing Central Missouri at the plate.
UCM reliever
Josh Bortka (2-0) earned the victory on the mound after tossing a scoreless and hitless eighth inning with two strikeouts and no walks.
Brady Gavin secured his third save of 2022, throwing a hitless top of the ninth with a strikeout and zero walks.
Jesse Holguin went 2-for-3 and Gavin Mestas compiled a double, leading the Hillcats (15-14, 9-7 MIAA) offensively for the game.
Rogers State reliever Rece Parker (1-3) took the setback on the rubber, surrendering one earned run on two hits in the eighth inning.
The Mules are slated to host Missouri Western at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 29, in an MIAA game at Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field.
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