CLAREMORE, Okla. – Second-ranked Central Missouri Mules baseball hit six home runs as it stampeded past the Rogers State Hillcats, 14-3 in seven innings, in game one of a three-game MIAA series Friday afternoon, March 21, at the RCB Bank Sports Complex.
The Mules (18-5, 9-2 MIAA) and Hillcats (16-7, 6-5 MIAA) are slated to play game two of the series at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 22, in Claremore.
UCM struck early in the game, scoring two runs in the top of the first when
Vance Tobol belted a two-run home run to left field for the 2-0 advantage.
The Hillcats knotted the game, 2-2, with two runs in the bottom of the first, but the stalemate didn't last long, as
Cole Kreisel and
Dayvin Johnson smashed back-to-back solo homers in the top of the second inning to put the Mules back on top, 4-2. It was Kreisel's second and Johnson's sixth home run of the season.
Ayden Blachowicz upped the Central Missouri lead to 6-2 in the top of the third inning, plating
Grant Hollister and
Chase Wilcox on an RBI single through the left side, prior to Tobol hitting his second homer of the game and team-best 11th of the season, a two-run shot to right field in the fourth, increasing the UCM lead to 8-2.
Jacob Steele belted his third home run of 2025 in the top of the sixth, a solo shot to center field, before Hollister was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the top of the seventh, building the Mule advantage to 10-3.
Isaiah Keller put an exclamation point on the game, crushing a grand slam to left field, his third homer of the season, in the seventh for the 14-3 triumph.
Keller was 3-for-4 with a run, grand slam and four RBI, Tobol was 2-for-4 with two home runs, three runs and four RBI, and Kreisel was 3-for-4 with a run and RBI, leading Central Missouri at the plate. Johnson, Steele and Wilcox each added two hits in the contest.
UCM right-handed starting pitcher
Evan O'Toole (3-0) earned the victory on the mound, allowing three earned runs on five hits with seven strikeouts and three walks in five innings.
