EMPORIA, Kan. – The No. 16-ranked University of Central Missouri Mules Baseball team fell to the Emporia State Hornets, 3-2, in the series opener of a three-game MIAA series on Friday evening, April 17, at the Trusler Sports Complex.
The Mules (29-10, 19-8 MIAA) and Hornets (29-12, 16-11 MIAA) are slated to play game two of the series on Saturday, April 18, at 2 p.m. in Emporia.
Central Missouri scored its only two runs of the game in the top of the fifth inning when
Cole Funkhouser scored
Collin Dobson on an RBI single up the middle, and
Brock Kobel stole home.
The Hornets scored two runs in the bottom of the first on a two-run homer from Noah Steele before plating what proved to be the game-winning run in the bottom of the sixth inning on an RBI groundout.
Funkhouser went 2-for-4 with an RBI, leading UCM offensively in the contest.
Central Missouri starting pitcher
Sawyer Allen (5-1) suffered the setback on the mound after giving up three earned runs on five hits with eight strikeouts and three walks in six innings.
Emporia State starting pitcher Colby Deaver (9-2) earned the win on the rubber, surrendering two earned runs on seven hits with nine strikeouts and just one walk in eight innings, while reliever Grant Huffman secured his seventh save of the season after throwing a scoreless top of the ninth inning with two strikeouts.
For the game, the Mules outhit the Hornets, 7-6.
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