WARRENSBURG, Mo. – The No. 4-ranked and top-seeded Central Missouri Mules baseball team advanced in the winner's bracket of the 2023 NCAA-II Central Regional, turning back eighth-seeded St. Cloud State in the opening round, 7-6, Thursday, May 18, at Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field.
The Mules (42-13) will face fifth-seeded Augustana (S.D.) Friday, May 19, at 6 p.m. in Warrensburg. The Vikings defeated fourth-seeded Ouachita Baptist in the other first round contest Thursday, 5-3.
UCM fell behind 2-0 after the Huskies (32-19) scored two runs in the top of the first inning, but had an immediate response, plating four in the bottom-half of the inning to gain a 4-2 lead.
Vance Tobol belted an RBI double to left center, bringing in
Carter Young, before
Brennen van Breusegen smacked an RBI single through the left side, scoring Tobol and tying the game, 2-2.
Max Holy deliver the go-ahead hit for UCM, roping a two-RBI triple down the right field line, plating van Breusegen and
Cole Moore, putting the Mules in front, 4-2.
Central Missouri would not relinquish its advantage the remainder of the game.
Holy went 2-for-3 with a triple and two RBI, Young was 2-for-3, and Tobol and
Mason Lowe both hit doubles, leading UCM at the plate in the contest.
UCM right-handed starting pitcher
Conner Wolf (11-3) earned the win on the mound, allowing four earned runs on eight hits with one strikeout and zero walks in 6 1/3 innings. Right-handed reliever
JD McReynolds earned his team-high sixth save of the season, tossing 1 2/3 hitless and scoreless innings with four Ks and one walk.
Sawyer Smith went 3-for-5 with a homer, double and two RBI, pacing the Huskies offensively.
St. Cloud State starting pitcher Sam Riola (4-5) suffered the loss on the rubber, surrendering five earned runs on seven hits with four strikeouts and three walks in five innings.
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