WARRENSBURG, Mo. – No. 3-ranked and top-seeded University of Central Missouri Mules Baseball won the 2025 NCAA-II Central Regional Championship after rolling to a 12-2 victory over third-seeded and No. 9-ranked Pittsburg State to complete a 2-0 series sweep of the Gorillas in the best-of-three Super Regional Friday, May 23, at Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field.
With the win, the Mules (43-11) captured their 21st regional championship in program history and secured a spot in the 2025 NCAA-II College World Series scheduled for May 30-June 7 in Cary, N.C., at the USA Baseball Training Complex. UCM's opening game opponent, as well as game date and time will be announced later.
Central Missouri took a 3-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning and never trailed again en route to the 10-run triumph.
Chase Heath plated
Jacob Steele on an RBI ground-out for the opening run of the game before
Chase Wilcox crushed his seventh homer of the season – a two-run round-tripper to right field – for the 3-0 advantage.
The Mules tacked on a run in the fifth on a
Dayvin Johnson RBI single to right field that drove in
Cole Kreisel prior to UCM scoring two runs in the sixth when
Grant Hollister belted a two-run home run to left field, his third of 2025, to put UCM on top, 6-1.
Central Missouri upped its lead to 9-2 with three runs in the seventh inning after Johnson smacked a single to centerfield that plated, Heath tallied an RBI ground-out, and
Vance Tobol hit an RBI infield single.
The Mules put an exclamation point on the game in the top of the ninth inning when Steele crossed home plate on a RBI fielder's choice from Heath and Tobol destroyed a baseball for a two-run home run to left field, his team-best 20th round-tripper of the season, for the final three runs of the game.
Johnson went 4-for-5 with two runs and two RBI, Steele was 2-for-3 with three runs, Tobol was 3-for-5 with a run, homer and three RBI, Wilcox was 2-for-4 with a double, home run, two runs and two runs batted in, Hollister was 1-for-4 with a homer and two RBI, and Heath drove in three runs, leading UCM at the plate.
Central Missouri reliever
Sam Wyrick (3-0) earned the win on the mound after allowing one earned run on three hits with one strikeout and zero walks in two innings.
Ricky Sanchez went 4-for-4 with a home run, run and RBI to lead Pittsburg State (42-12) offensively.
PSU starting pitcher Kolby Dougan (8-1) suffered the setback on the rubber, surrendering four earned runs on four hits with three strikeouts and two walks in 4 2/3 innings of work.
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