The top-seeded Central Missouri Mules scored six runs in the first three innings and handed South Central Region Pitcher of the Year Joe Holtmeyer his first loss since March 11 in a 9-3 first round defeat of sixth-seeded Nebraska-Omaha on Thursday night.
Central Missouri (48-8) has now scored 19 of the 35 runs Holtmeyer has given up on the season. The Mavericks (32-19) threw him out against the Mules for the third time in 13 days.
UCM got a masterful performance from senior right-hander Brooks Martin as he tossed a complete game, striking out 11. He allowed only eight hits on the day, and threw a career-high 150 pitches to move to 11-0 on the year.
Central Missouri struck in the first inning thanks to a leadoff double to right by newly named South Central Region Player of the Year Chance Tuttle. He was sacrificed over to third and then scored on a sac fly by junior first baseman Nick DeBiasse.
In the second inning the Mules tallied two more, getting a two-RBI single from sophomore second baseman Cory Deedrick to score runners from second and third.
The Mavericks answered though, scoring two runs in the top of the third. Catcher Jake Benne hit an RBI single to left field, followed by a run-scoring single to center by freshman first baseman Tyler Splichal. Martin then struck out the final batter of the frame with the bases loaded to get out of the jam and escape with a 3-2 lead.
The Central Missouri offense wasn’t done though, tallying three runs in the bottom half. An RBI single from left fielder Tyler Ruch scored DeBiasse, then a single to right field by outfielder Jon Wegener brought in two more to make it 6-2.
The Mavs scored one in the seventh on back-to-back hits by Brady Hohl and Tyler Lundy, but the big bomb came from DeBiasse in the bottom of the eighth to put it away. He hit a three-run homer, crushing a 3-0 pitch to left off reliever Colby McCord.
