FORT SMITH, Ark. – Jack Kreisman struck out a career-high nine batters and
Isaiah Keller and
Cody Moore both homered as fourth-ranked Central Missouri Mules baseball turned back the Arkansas-Fort Smith Lions, 10-1, in the second game of a three-game MIAA series Saturday, March 8, at Crowder Field.
The Mules (13-3, 7-1 MIAA) secure a series win over the Lions (7-11, 2-6 MIAA) with the victory and will look to complete a three-game, series sweep over UAFS in the series finale at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 9, in Fort Smith.
A sophomore right-hander from Overland Park, Kan., Kreisman tossed five innings and allowed just one earned run on three hits with zero walks and his career-best nine Ks on 70 pitchers to move to 1-0 on the mound this season.
Central Missouri wasted no time in jumping on the scoreboard Saturday, scoring six runs in the top of the first to gain a 6-0 lead.
Dayvin Johnson opened the scoring, roping an RBI double down the right field line to score
Jacob Steele prior to
Chase Wilcox working a bases-loaded walk, plating
Chase Heath, and
Grant Hollister hitting a sacrifice fly, bringing home Johnson, for the first three runs of the inning.
Vance Tobol scored after Wilcox stole second base, before Keller hit his second home run of the season, a two-run homer to right-center, for the fifth and sixth runs of the frame.
The Mules added a run in the fourth and sixth innings, and two in the fifth, securing the 10-1 triumph.
Steele went 3-for-5 with a run, Johnson was 2-for-5 with two runs, a double and RBI, and Wilcox was 2-for-4 with a run, three RBI and double, leading UCM at the plate in the contest.
Central Missouri outhit Arkansas-Fort Smith for the game, 11-3.
UAFS starting pitcher Grant Shankle (3-3) took the loss on the rubber, giving up nine runs – four earned – on eight hits with three strikeouts and three walks in five innings of work.
