The Central Missouri Mules won in the opening round of the NCAA Division-II Central Regional beating Wayne State, Nebraska 7-4 in Emporia, Kansas [ Box Score ]. The Mules got to Wildcats ace pitcher Nick Schumacher for seven runs in 7.2 innings as he suffered just his second loss of the season.
Schumacher ran into trouble in the third inning when the Mules scored four times. Central Missouri’s Brian McBryde hit a single to drive in the first run of the game. It was his 300 th hit; he is only one of 12 in NCAA history to do that. Iian Dykins hit a three run homer to cap off the scoring in the third.
The Wildcats jumped on front in the second when 3B Alex Koch homered. He was 3 for 3 on the day. Down 4-1, the Wildcats nibbled with a run in the 5 th , but Central Missouri scored three in the 8 th finishing off Schmacher.
Mark Carey, MIAA pitcher of the year went 7.2 innings giving up four runs on nine hits without walking a batter and striking out four.
