CARY, N.C. – No. 4-seeded University of Central Missouri Mules Baseball kept its 2026 season alive after demolishing the No. 8-seeded UIndy Greyhounds, 23-9, in an NCAA Division II World Series elimination game on Sunday afternoon, May 31, at the USA Baseball National Training Complex.
The Mules (40-16) will face the loser of the No. 1 West Chester vs. No. 5 UT Tyler winner's bracket game in another elimination game on Tuesday, June 2, at 12:30 p.m. CT (1:30 p.m. ET) in Cary.
The 23 runs scored by Central Missouri in the victory set a new record for runs scored in a single game since the World Series moved to Cary, North Carolina, back in 2009. The 32 combined runs between both teams were also a World Series record since the tournament relocated to Cary.
UCM scored four runs in the top of the first inning, and three in the third before exploding for eight runs in the fourth to blow the game wide open.
Cole Funkhouser got the scoring going for the Mules in the eight-run fourth, driving in
Jackson Bryant and
Brock Kobel on a two-RBI single to left field before
Kaleb Ceola worked a bases-loaded walk for the third run of the inning.
Drew Veatch hit a sacrifice fly, plating
Chase Wilcox, prior to
Cole Kreisel bringing in the fifth and sixth runs of the inning on a two-run single through the left side. Wilcox capped the scoring, scoring two runs on a two-RBI single to right-center, upping Central Missouri's lead to 15-3.
The Greyhounds (39-24) answered with five runs in the bottom of the fourth, decreasing the UCM advantage to 15-8, but the Mules scored three runs each in the fifth and sixth, and one run in the seventh and ninth, capping Central Missouri's record-breaking 23-9 triumph.
For the game, every Mule in the starting lineup had at least one hit. Veatch was 4-for-4 with three runs and four RBI, Funkhouser was 4-for-7 with a triple, four runs, and three RBI, Wilcox was 3-for-4 with three runs and three RBI, Ceola was 2-for-4 with three runs, two doubles, and four RBI, and
Grant Hollister,
Evan Vienhage, and
Jackson Bryant all had two hits, leading Central Missouri at the plate.
UCM relief pitcher
Hayes Allen (4-0) earned the win on the mound after giving up zero earned runs on just two hits with two strikeouts and four walks in 3 1/3 innings.
Luke Smock had two hits and three runs batted in, pacing the Greyhounds.
For the game, the Mules outhit UIndy, 21-5.
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