WARRENSBURG, Mo. – No. 4-ranked Central Missouri Mules baseball scored a run in the bottom of the eighth inning to break a 4-4 tie and defeat the Central Oklahoma Bronchos, 5-4, in the opening game of a three-game MIAA series Friday, April 21, at Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field.
The Mules (31-12, 22-6 MIAA) are scheduled to face the Bronchos (29-14, 16-12 MIAA) in game two of the series Saturday, April 22, at noon.
After Central Oklahoma's Kaleb Glass hit a two-out, wind-aided, solo homer to left field, knotting the game, 4-4, in the top of the eighth,
Mason Lowe belted a two-out triple to right-center field before crossing home plate on a Central Oklahoma fielding error, putting UCM in front, 5-4.
Closer
JD McReynolds slammed the door shut for the Mules in the top of ninth, posting his team-high-tying fourth save of the season after tallying a pair of strikeouts and a fly-out, securing the victory of UCM.
Vance Tobol went 3-for-4 with a double, his ninth homer of the season and two RBI while Lowe was 2-for-4 with a double and triple and
Carter Young hit his team-best 14th home run of 2023, leading the Mules at the plate.
Right-handed reliever
Ethan Peterson (3-0) picked up the victory on the mound for UCM, giving up one earned run on one hit in the top of the eighth inning.
Glass was 2-for-5 with a homer and Orlando Gonzalez was 2-for-4, pacing Central Oklahoma offensively.
Broncho reliever Jacob Bailey (1-3) was the tough luck losing pitcher after surrendering one unearned run on two hits with three strikeouts in two innings of work.
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