TOPEKA, Kan. – Grant Hollister hit a go-ahead, three-run homer with two outs in the top of the ninth inning to lead No. 22-ranked University of Central Missouri Mules Baseball to a 7-6 victory over the Washburn Ichabods in a midweek MIAA game on Tuesday, April 21, at Falley Field and Steve Anson Stadium on the Washburn University campus.
The Mules (31-11, 21-9 MIAA) complete a three-game, season series sweep of the Ichabods (18-26, 14-16 MIAA) with the win and will travel to Edmond, Okla., for a three-game MIAA series at Central Oklahoma (23-20, 14-15 MIAA) April 24-26.
Central Missouri trailed 4-3 entering the top of the ninth inning before
Ryker Edwards belted a pinch-hit, lead-off, solo home run to left field, knotting the game, 4-4. It was Edwards' third homer of the season. After
Kaiden Ashton and
Drew Veatch hit two-out singles in the inning, Hollister stepped up to the plate and crushed a 2-0 pitch over the wall down the left field line for a three-run homer, putting the Mules in front, 7-4. It was Hollister's first round-tripper of 2026.
Washburn didn't go away, however, and loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth. The Ichabods plated two runs, cutting the UCM lead to 7-6, but Hollister corralled a ground ball at second base and stepped on the bag for the final out of the game, sealing the Central Missouri win.
Hollister had two hits, including his homer, and three RBI. Edwards went 1-for-1 with his pinch-hit home run, and Veatch was 2-for-3 with his first homer of the season, two runs, and three RBI, leading UCM at the plate.
Central Missouri relief pitcher
Gavin Killion (2-3) earned the win on the mound after allowing zero earned runs on zero hits in an inning, while closer
Sam Wyrick picked up his fifth save of 2026, surrendering two earned runs on two hits in the bottom of the ninth inning.
For the game, the Mules outhit the Ichabods, 10-9.
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