WARRENSBURG, Mo. – Brennen van Breusegen,
Isaiah Pani and
John Prudhom homered, and
Collin Jones struck out seven, helping the fourth-ranked Central Missouri Mules baseball team cruise to a 21-6, seven-inning win over the Missouri Southern Lions in the opening game of a three-game MIAA series Friday, April 8, at Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field.
The Mules (27-4, 20-1 MIAA) are scheduled to face the Lions (23-13, 13-8 MIAA) in game two of the series at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 9.
After spotting Missouri Southern an early 4-0 lead, Central Missouri put the pedal to the metal and outscored the Lions, 21-2, over the next six innings, plating 21 runs on 21 hits, to end the game via run-rule after seven innings.
van Breusgen went a career-best 5-for-5 with his sixth home run of the season, four runs scored and four RBIs while Pani added a 3-of-5 showing and was a double shy of hitting for the cycle with a triple, his second homer of 2022 and a single, going along with four runs batted in, pacing the sizzling Mule offense. van Breusegen's five hits mark the 38th time in program history a player has compiled five hits in a game.
Dusty Stroup accomplished the feat last season.
John Prudhom smacked his team-best 11th home run of the season, and drove in a pair of runs,
Michael Chrisman went 3-of-5 with a triple and two RBIs, and
Cole Moore went 3-of-4 at the plate.
Jones improved to an MIAA-best 7-0 on the mound after throwing five innings and allowing five earned runs on six hits with zero walks and seven Ks on 87 pitches.
Cole Robinson went 2-for-3 with a home run and RBI while Jordan Fitzpatrick drove in four runs on a grand slam, pacing Missouri Southern in the batter's box.
Lion starter Jacob Davis (5-1) suffered the setback on the rubber after giving up nine earned runs on 10 hits with one strikeout and a walk in three innings of work.
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