CLAREMORE, Okla. – Central Missouri Mules baseball plated nine runs on 12 hits, leading it past the Rogers State Hillcats, 9-1, in the series finale of a three-game MIAA series Sunday afternoon, March 26, at the Diamond Sports Complex.
With the win, the Mules (21-8, 13-3 MIAA) secure a 2-1 series victory over the HIllcats (19-10, 7-9 MIAA) after splitting a doubleheader Saturday, March 25.
Central Missouri gained a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning after
Carter Young belted the first pitch he saw over the right field wall for his eighth homer of the season.
UCM tacked on two more runs in the top of the fifth when
Vance Tobol smacked a two-RBI single to right-center, plating
John Prudhom and
Jack Schark, extending the Mule advantage to 3-0.
The Mules upped their lead to 6-0 in the top of the sixth after Schark roped a bases-clearing double to right-center, driving in Young,
Max Holy and
Adamo Stornello.
Rogers State scored a run in the bottom of the sixth, trimming UCM's advantage to 6-1, but Central Missouri answered with three runs in the top of the ninth for the eventual 9-1 victory.
Stornello batted in
Cole Moore on a sacrifice fly to centerfield prior to Young smacking a two-run double to left-center, scoring Holy and
Chase Wilcox for the eighth and ninth runs of the contest.
Schark went 3-for-6 with two doubles and three RBI while Young was 2-for-6 with a homer, double and three runs batted in. Prudhom collected three hits in five at bats, including a double, and Stornello was 2-for-2 in the batter's box, rounding out the UCM offensive leaders.
Central Missouri right-handed starter
Cole LaLonde (1-0) earned his first victory on the mound of the season after giving up no earned runs on just one hit with one walk and seven strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings.
AJ Folds had two hits, leading the HIllcats at the plate.
Rogers State starting pitcher Rece Parker (4-1) took the setback on the rubber, surrendering six earned runs on nine hits with two walks and five strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings of work.
The Mules are slated to return to action Tuesday, March 28, at 5 p.m. in St. Joseph, Mo., with a midweek MIAA game at Missouri Western.
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