EMPORIA, Kan. – No. 16-ranked University of Central Missouri Mules Baseball posted a 4-0, shutout victory over the Emporia State Hornets in the second game of a three-game MIAA series on Saturday, April 18, at the Trusler Sports Complex.
The Mules (30-10, 20-8 MIAA) and Hornets (29-13, 16-12 MIAA) are slated to play the series finale on Sunday, April 19, at 1 p.m. in Emporia, Kan.
Central Missouri gained an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning when
Cole Funkhouser belted his fourth homer of the season, a two-run home run to left field.
Funkhouser drove in UCM's third run of the game in the top of the fifth, scoring
Brock Kobel on a sacrifice fly after Kobel doubled to right-center to lead off the inning, upping the Mules' lead to 3-0.
Trey Jozwiakowski provided the final run of the game for UCM in the top of the sixth inning, driving in
Ryker Edwards on an RBI fielder's choice.
Funkhouser was 1-for-2 with a home run and three RBI,
Chase Wilcox was 2-for-5, Edwards was 2-for-4, and Kobel was 2-for-4 with a double, leading Central Missouri at the plate in the game.
UCM reliever
Tommy Gross (1-1) earned the win on the mound after giving up zero earned runs on four hits with three strikeouts and two walks in 2 2/3 innings, while
Sam Wyrick picked up his team-best fourth save of the season after surrendering zero earned runs on three hits with three strikeouts and one walk in 3 1/3 innings of work.
The Mules and Hornets both had eight hits in the game, but UCM left just six runners on base compared to 16 stranded for Emporia State.
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