Top-Seeded Mules Baseball Punches Ticket to NCAA-II Super Regional with 13-6 Win Over No. 8 Harding Saturday

WARRENSBURG, Mo. – Top-seeded and No. 3-ranked University of Central Missouri Mules Baseball advanced to the 2025 NCAA-II Super Regionals after posting a 13-6 victory over the No. 8-seeded Harding University Bisons in the NCAA-II Central Regional semifinals Saturday, May 17, at Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field.

The Mules (41-11) will host the No. 3-seeded Pittsburg State Gorillas (42-10) in a best-of-three Super Regional series May 22-24 in Warrensburg. The winner of the best-of-three series will claim the NCAA-II Central Regional Championship and secure a spot in the NCAA-II College World Series. The Gorillas won the other half of the Central Regional Tournament bracket after defeating No. 2-seeded Minnesota State Sunday, May 18, in Mankato, Minn., 10-8. 

The Mules and Bisons (41-19) were tied, 3-3, before Central Missouri scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to gain a 7-3 advantage.

Chase Heath opened the scoring for UCM in the inning, belting an RBI double down the left field line to drive in Dayvin Johnson for the go-ahead run before Chase Wilcox crushed a three-run home run to right field, upping the Central Missouri advantage to 7-3. It was Wilcox's sixth homer of the season.

Harding responded, however, and cut UCM's lead to 7-6 after plating a combined three runs in the top of the sixth, seventh and eighth innings.

The Mules answered, though, and scored six runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to open up a 13-6 advantage.

Jacob Steele roped an RBI double to right-center to score Will Krzykowski prior to Vance Tobol smacking an RBI single up the middle, driving in Steele, for the opening two runs of the frame. Heath and Tobol scored on back-to-back Harding wild pitches, then Isaiah Keller worked a bases loaded walk to plate Wilcox, and Krzykowski was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, allowing Brett Grupe to cross home plate, for the final four runs of the inning.

Wilcox went 3-for-4 with a home run, three runs and four RBI while Krzykowski was 2-for-2 with a run and RBI and Steele was 2-for-6 with two runs, two doubles and a run batted in, pacing Central Missouri at the plate.

UCM left-handed relief pitcher Sawyer Allen (6-0) earned the victory on the mound, allowing two earned runs on two hits with four strikeouts and just one walk in 4 2/3 innings while right-hander Jake Wilson secured his first save of 2025 after tossing 2 1/3 innings and giving up one earned run on two hits with five strikeouts and four walks.

The Mules outhit the Bisons, 13-7 and compiled five stolen bases.

Kade Smith was 2-for-4 with a triple and RBI while Coulton Doyle homered and Ty Kirkbride drove in two runs, leading Harding offensively.

Harding starting pitcher Merrit Jay (7-5) took the loss on the rubber after surrendering seven earned runs on seven hits with four strikeouts and three walks in 3 2/3 innings of work.