ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – No. 3-ranked Central Missouri Mules baseball increased its winning streak to nine games with an 8-4 victory over the Missouri Western Griffons in a MIAA game Tuesday, March 12, at Griffon Baseball Field.
The Mules (20-3, 9-1 MIAA) are scheduled to travel to Topeka, Kan., for a three-game MIAA series at Washburn March 15-17.
Central Missouri did the bulk of its damage early, scoring six runs in the top of the first inning to jump out to a 6-0 lead.
Vance Tobol hit a two-run double to right field for the opening runs of the game before
Cole Moore hit a sacrifice fly that scored
Josh Patrick for a 3-0 lead.
Jacob Steele belted his sixth home run of the season – a two-run homer to centerfield – to build UCM's advantage to 5-0, and
Chase Heath smacked an RBI single to left field for the sixth and final run of the frame.
Moore went 3-for-4 with two doubles, while Steele, Heath, and
Brennen van Breusegen all had two hits in the contest, pacing the Mules at the plate.
Starting pitcher
Jack Kriesman (2-0) earned the win on the mound for UCM, allowing just one earned run on five hits with two strikeouts and zero walks in five innings of work.
Jared Munk and Ryan Koval both had two hits, pacing Missouri Western (12-10, 4-6 MIAA) in the batter's box.
Missouri Western starting pitcher Layne Rutheford suffered the setback on the rubber, surrendering six runs – five earned – on four hits with one walk in two thirds of an inning.
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