CARY, N.C. – Chase Heath hit a sacrifice fly and
Chase Wilcox belted a solo homer in the bottom of the eighth inning to help No. 2-seeded and second-ranked University of Central Missouri Mules Baseball to a 5-3 victory over the No. 7-seeded Northwood Timberwolves in the opening round of the 2025 NCAA-II College World Series late Friday night, May 30, at the USA Baseball National Training Complex.
The Mules (44-11) advance in the winner's bracket of the double-elimination tournament with the win and will face third-seeded and No. 3-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne (49-13) Sunday, June 1, at 5 p.m. CT (6 p.m. ET) in Cary, N.C.
Central Missouri jumped out to a 3-0 lead early, plating three runs in the bottom of the first inning on a two-RBI single to left-center off the bat of
Vance Tobol and an RBI single to center field from Wilcox.
The Timberwolves (40-21) answered through, scoring a run on a bases loaded walk in the fifth before tying the game, 3-3, via a two-run home run in the top of the eighth inning.
Dayvin Johnson worked a walk to lead-off the bottom-half of the eighth before stealing second base and advancing to third on a Northwood error with Heath up to bat. Heath hit a line-drive to the left-fielder, allowing Johnson to tag from third and score on the sacrifice fly, putting UCM back in front, 4-3.
Wilcox extended the lead to 5-3 after crushing a 2-1 pitch deep down the right field line and over the fence for his eighth home run of the season.
Wilcox went 2-for-4 with a homer, run and two-RBI while Tobol was 1-for-4 with a pair of RBI,
Will Krzykowski was 2-for-3 and Johnson was 1-for-4 with two runs, leading the Mules at the plate in the contest.
Central Missouri right-handed relief pitcher
JD McReynolds (8-0) earned the victory on the mound after allowing no earned runs on just one hit with four strikeouts and zero walks in the eighth and ninth innings. UCM starting pitcher
Jack Scott went 4 2/3 innings and gave up one earned run on four hits with a season-high eight strikeouts and only one walk.
For the game, the Mules outhit the Timberwolves, 8-7, stole two bases and turned one double-play.
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