WARRENSBURG, Mo. – Vance Tobol hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning, helping No. 1-ranked Central Missouri Mules baseball post a 3-2 win over the Emporia State University Hornets in the series finale of a three-game MIAA series Monday afternoon, April 7, at Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field.
With the victory, the Mules (25-8, 16-5 MIAA) complete a three-game series sweep of the Hornets (16-16, 9-12 MIAA). UCM is scheduled to travel to Washburn (18-19, 11-13 MIAA) for a midweek MIAA contest Wednesday, April 9, at 5 p.m. in Topeka, Kan.
After Emporia State tied the game, 2-2, with a solo home run in the top of the ninth inning,
Jacob Steele hit a one-out single to left field before
Chase Wilcox worked a walk, giving UCM runners on first and second base with Tobol at the plate. Tobol smacked a 3-2 pitch into right field, allowing Steele to cross home plate and seal the walk-off victory.
Tobol went 2-for-4 with his team-high 14th home run of the season and two RBI while Steele was 1-for-3 with a run batted in, and
Cole Kreisel was 1-for-3 with a double, leading Central Missouri at the plate.
UCM left-handed relief pitcher
Chris Massey (2-1) earned the win on the mound after allowing one earned run on one hit with four strikeouts and two walks in three innings of work.
Noah Steele went 2-for-3 with a double and home run, pacing the Hornets offensively.
ESU starting pitcher Cade Barton (4-1) suffered the setback on the rubber, giving up three earned runs on three hits with four strikeouts and zero walks in 8 1/3 innings.
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