The No. 11 Central Missouri Mules baseball squad completed their run through the losers bracket and got revenge on Missouri Southern with a 4-1 decision on Saturday night to advance to the MIAA Championship round.
Central Missouri (41-12) must defeat Nebraska-Omaha two times to defend its 2008 MIAA Tournament title. It is the 16 th consecutive appearance for the Mules in the conference championship round, and their 500 th victory since 2000.
The Mules got on top early with two runs in the opening inning. Sophomore outfielder Jon Wegener hit an RBI double to left field to drive in freshman shortstop Bret Schwartz, followed by an RBI ground out to the right side by sophomore first baseman Eric Cole to score senior Will Feil.
Danny Potje got the start for the Mules and allowed a run in the first inning, but no more the rest of the way, tossing 5.1 innings and giving up only three hits. All-American Chris Matlock came in to toss the final 3.2 frames, allowing no hits, no runs, and striking out six to earn his 14 th save of the season.
Feil had the play of the day in the fifth inning though, making a diving catch on the warning track on a ball hit to the left line. It saved the tying run, as there was a man on third with two outs.
Both teams threw up seven consecutive shutout innings until the ninth, when the Mules grabbed a couple insurance runs. RBI singles from Colin Murphy and Cory Deedrick did the damage, while a leadoff hit by Alex Kent got it started.
Central Missouri will play the Mavericks at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday in the MIAA Championship game at Community America Ballpark in Kansas City, Kan.
story courtesy of UCM athletics
