JOPLIN, Mo. – Chase Wilcox hit three homers, and
Dayvin Johnson and
Isaiah Keller also homered, leading No. 3-ranked Central Missouri Mules baseball to an 11-5 victory over the Missouri Southern Lions in game one of a three-game MIAA series Thursday, April 17, at Warren Turner Field.
The Mules (30-9, 21-6 MIAA) and Lions (22-19, 14-13 MIAA) are scheduled to wrap up the series with a noon doubleheader Friday, April 18, in Joplin.
Wilcox went 3-for-4 with a career-high three home runs, raising his season total to five, and four runs scored and three RBI, while Keller was 3-for-5 with his sixth home run of 2025, going along with four RBI, Johnson was 1-for-4 with his 10th homer of the season and three runs batted in,
Cole Kreisel was 2-for-5 with a double, and
Kaleb Ceola tallied a double, leading UCM at the plate in the triumph.
Central Missouri relief pitcher
JD McReynolds (6-0) earned his sixth win on the mound in 2025, allowing three runs – two earned – on five hits with seven strikeouts and just one walk in five innings.
The Mules jumped out to a 5-1 lead after two runs in the top of the first inning and three in the second and never trailed enroute to their 11-5 victory.
Drew Townsend was 3-for-4 with two home runs, three runs scored and two RBI, leading Missouri Southern offensively.
MSSU starting pitcher Cole Gayman (3-4) suffered the setback on the rubber, surrendering seven earned runs on six hits with four walks and one strikeout in four innings of work.
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