(MANKATO, Minn.) – The Central Missouri Mules lost 11-2 Thursday to fifth-seeded St. Cloud State in the Central Regional opener at Franklin Rogers Park.
The second-seeded Mules move to the loser’s bracket and will face the loser of top-seeded Minnesota State and sixth-seeded Missouri Southern at 12 p.m. Friday in an elimination game.
The Huskies (35-9) got on the board first with three unearned runs in the top of the third inning. A throwing error allowed the leadoff batter to reach base and with the bases loaded and two outs, Sean Borman roped a three-run double down the right field line.
The Mules (35-12) got on the board in the fifth on Jon Cotter‘s RBI sacrifice bunt. UCM added another run in the sixth when John Oropeza and Kevin Gratza had back-to-back two-out doubles. The Mules, however, were unable to push the tying run across.
The Huskies plated five runs in the eighth inning to break the game open. Travis Cariveau and Travis Enger each had RBI hits and Eric Loxtercamp finished off the inning with an RBI double. SCSU plated three more runs in the ninth when Borman homered to right field.
Kurtis Schuyler (4-4) took the loss for Central Missouri allowing three unearned runs on six hits in 5.2 innings. He struck out four and walked just one.
Scott Lieser (10-3) earned the win for the Huskies tossing eight innings allowing two runs on six hits. He walked one and struck out two.
Friday’s game can be heard live on 1450 KOKO, 98.5 The Bar and warrensburgradio.com with Shawn Jones and Bob Jackson on the call. The Central Missouri School of Graduate and Extended Studies Dugout Show will begin at 11:35 p.m.