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Mules open series with sweep of Tigers
5/3/2009
By RANDY GONZALES
rgonzales@dailynews.net
The Mules showed why they are the 19th-ranked team in the nation Friday night, sweeping a Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association doubleheader from the Fort Hays State University baseball team.
The University of Central Missouri won the opener at Larks Park 5-2, then pounded Fort Hays in the second game, 12-2 in eight innings.
Central Missouri (37-11 overall, 25-9 MIAA) won with pitching, hitting and defense.
"They just keep coming at you," Fort Hays coach Rick Sabath said. "They played a great doubleheader."
Junior Mitch Stubenhofer (6-0) picked up the win in the opener, allowing two runs in five innings. Senior Chris Matlock got the final four outs for his 12th save.
"We saw first-hand their pitching depth tonight," Sabath said. "Stubenhofer made some quality pitches down the stretch."
Tiger senior Eric Gilliland (8-7) pitched a complete game, giving up five runs on nine hits. Senior Alex Harvey's two-run homer in the second gave Gilliland the lead. But junior Chance Tuttle hit a solo homer in the third for the Mules, and Central Missouri added two runs in the fifth and single runs in the sixth and seventh.
In Game 2, Central Missouri scored three runs in the first off senior Kent Williamson. After Fort Hays (30-24, 20-18) got single runs in the third and fourth to make it 3-2, Central Missouri broke the game open with two in the fifth and four in the sixth. The Mules added a run in the seventh and two in the eighth to end the game by run-rule.
Williamson (6-4) allowed seven runs on seven hits in 51รขÑ3 innings. Junior Brooks Martin (6-4) gave up two runs on two hits in seven innings for Central Missouri.
"Brooks Martin was a quality guy in the second game," Sabath said. "He didn't give us many opportunities to score."
Senior AJ Levanduski homered for the Tigers, while senior Will Feil homered twice for the Mules. Central Missouri sophomore Eric Cole had two hits and three RBIs in Game 2 after going 3-for-4 with an RBI and run scored in the opener.
"Eric Cole, we tried everything we had to get him out," Sabath said. "Will Feil has been an excellent player for them for a long time."
The Mules also got a spectacular diving catch deep in right-center in Game 2 from center fielder Tuttle.
| Scoreboard | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | Date | Opponent | Score |
| 2/18 | SW Baptist | L 66-53 | |
| 12/1 | Oklahoma - Panhandle | L 66-60 (OT) | |