ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – No. 3-ranked Central Missouri Mules baseball completed a three-game, MIAA series sweep of the Missouri Western Griffons with a pair of victories Monday, Feb. 24, at the Spring Sports Complex. UCM won game one, 14-8, before taking the nightcap, 3-2.
The Mules (8-2, 3-0 MIAA) are scheduled to begin a five-game homestand at Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field in Warrensburg with a midweek, non-conference contest against Maryville Wednesday, Feb. 26, at 3 p.m.
In the Mules' 14-8, comeback victory in game one, Central Missouri used a four-run top of the eighth inning to rally from an 8-6 deficit before tacking on an additional four runs in the top of the ninth for the 14-8 triumph.
Grant Hollister belted a RBI double to left field for the opening run of the eighth inning before
Brett Grupe smacked a single to shortstop that brought in Hollister, knotting the game, 8-8.
Cole Kreisel delivered the go-ahead hit and scored Grupe on a RBI triple to centerfield. Kreisel was able to cross home plate on a Griffon error, upping the UCM lead to 10-8.
Chase Heath crushed his first home run of the season – a lead-off, solo shot to left field – to open the Central Missouri four-run ninth inning prior to Grupe scoring
Will Krzykowski on a sacrifice fly and
Vance Tobol crushing a two-run double to left-center, giving the Mules their 14 runs.
Kreisel went a perfect 3-for-3 with two runs, the go-ahead RBI and a triple while Hollister was also a flawless 3-for-3 with two RBI and a double, and Krzykowski was 3-for-4 with a triple, pacing the Mules at the plate in the opener. Heath added three RBI and two hits, including his home run, and Tobol had a pair of hits, including a double, and drove in two runs, respectively.
Central Missouri reliever
Jake Wilson (1-0) earned the victory on the mound after allowing one earned run on two hits with three strikeouts and one walk in three innings.
Quinn Gundelfinger was 3-for-4 with a double and homer, going along with four RBI, pacing Missouri Western offensively.
Griffon reliever Colby Deaver (0-3) suffered the setback on the rubber, surrendering five earned runs on nine hits with two strikeouts and one walk in 5 2/3 innings of work.
In Central Missouri's 3-2 triumph in the second game, UCM broke a 2-2 tie with a run in the top of the eighth after
Chase Wilcox hit an RBI single to left-center, scoring
Isaiah Keller for what proved to the game-winning run.
Wilcox went 1-for-1, Heath was 4-for-5 and
Grant Hollister and Keller each had two hits, leading the Mules in the batter's box in game two.
Central Missouri reliever
Chris Massey (1-0) secured the win on the mound in the nightcap, throwing 3 2/3 shutout and hitless innings with a career-high nine strikeouts and zero walks on 48 pitches.
Blake Venneman, Gundelfinger and Anthony Taggart each had two hits to pace Missouri Western (1-9, 0-3 MIAA) at the plate.
Griffon relief pitcher Jayson Shorb (0-1) took the loss in the second contest, giving up one earned run on two hits with one strikeout in two innings of work.
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