WARRENSBURG, Mo. – Isaiah Keller stole second base, then scored on back-to-back Emporia State errors in the bottom of the 10th inning, helping No. 1-ranked Central Missouri Mules baseball post a 6-5, walk-off win over the Hornets in game two of a three-game MIAA series Sunday afternoon, April 6, on Military Appreciation Day at Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field.
The Mules (24-8, 15-5 MIAA) secure a series victory over Emporia State (16-15, 9-11 MIAA) with the win and will face ESU in the series finale at 2 p.m. Monday, April 7, in Warrensburg.
Emporia State led 5-4 going into the bottom of the ninth inning before
Cole Kreisel worked a lead-off walk and stole second base with
Jacob Steele up to bat. Steele smacked a 2-2 pitch through the left side of the infield, allowing Kreisel to score the tying run.
After UCM relief pitcher
JD McReynolds tossed a 1-2-3 top of the 10th with a fly-out and two ground outs, Keller led-off the bottom-half of the inning with an infield single before rounding the bases to seal the win for the Mules.
Dayvin Johnson went 3-for-5 with a double, his eighth home run of the season and two RBI while
Vance Tobol was 3-for-5, and Keller was 2-for-4 with a double, pacing UCM at the plate.
McReynolds (4-0) earned the win on the mound for Central Missouri after throwing a hitless and scoreless 10th inning.
Noah Steele was 2-for-4 with a double and home run while Jovanni Toledo tallied a homer and three RBI, pacing Emporia State offensively.
ESU relief pitcher Ian Lanik (1-1) suffered the setback on the rubber, giving up two runs – one earned – on three hits with one strikeout and one walks in two innings.
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