The Missouri Western baseball team gave up five unanswered runs and had six errors losing in the final game of the four game series with No. 2 Central Missouri by a score of 7-2. Western falls to 5-6 overall and 1-3 in MIAA play.

The first inning started strong for the Griffons as Michael Schulze and Jake Graham reached on errors by the Mules. Shawn Egge singled to center loading the bases for the Griffons and then Schulze scored on a fielder’s choice by Nate Ramler giving Western a 1-0 lead after one.

Things stayed that way until the bottom of the second when Central strung together three hits to scored two runs taking a 2-1 lead after two.

Western stayed calm and was able to capitalize on a hit and a Mule error in the fourth tying the score at two.

Unfortunatly the rest of the game belonged to the Mules as they took the lead for good in the fith when Ben Cox singled to score Brad Wilson. The Mules scored another run in the sixth and three in the eighth improving to 7-1 overall and 3-1 in MIAA action.

Western had their lead off batter on in seven of the nine innings but were unable to get the big hit leaving 11 runners on base. Graham went 2-for-4 in the game while Grant Fink scored a run and went 2-for-4. Matt Bergin picked up the loss going four innings gving up four hits and one earned run with three strikeouts. He falls to 0-3 on the year.

The Mules had ten hits with Bret Schwartz, Albert Selanders, Wilson and Cox all getting two hits. Selanders scored two runs while Wilson drove in two.

Chris Fitzpatrick improved to 2-0 the season going five innings. He gave up five hits while striking out five. Travis Unthank went 2.2 innings giving up two hits with three strikouts.

Western returns to action on Saturday, March 10 with a non-conference double header against the University of Mary. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 pm from the Griffon Baseball Field at the Spring Sports Complex.

— MWSU Sports Information —