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Big innings lift Mules in opener
Comments 0 | Recommend 0Central Missouri wins 7-4 at Central Regional
In a battle of pitching aces, a pair of big innings lifted Central Missouri to a 7-4 victory over Wayne State on Thursday in the opening round of the NCAA Division II Central Regional at Emporia, Kan.
The Mules (42-15) will now face defending regional champion Nebraska-Omaha, a 2-1 winner over Minnesota State on Thursday, in a winner’s bracket quarterfinal game at 7 p.m. today.
Ian Dykins’ three-run homer provided the crowning blow in a four-run third inning, giving the Mules a 4-1 lead. Brian McBryde singled in the first run of the inning for his 300th career hit, becoming the 12th NCAA II player to reach that milestone.
Chris Brown struck a bases-loaded single to drive in two runs in a three-run eighth that provided the margin of victory.
Wayne State scored two runs with two out in its half of the eighth inning off Carey and Tom Latimore, but Chris Matlock got the final out to tame the threat and then pitched a scoreless ninth to get the save, striking out two in 1 1/3 hitless innings.
Mark Carey (10-1), who was named the Central Region Pitcher of the Year on Wednesday, went 7 2/3 innings. He allowed nine hits and four runs, all earned, struck out four and walked none.
Wayne State starter Nick Schumacher gave up all seven runs, the most he has given up this season. He came in with a 13-1 record and a 1.82 ERA.
Brown and Luis Perez each went 2-for-4 to lead the Mules’ eight-hit attack. McBryde and Dykins scored two runs apiece, and McBryde stole two bases.
Clay Weatherford’s leadoff double started Central Missouri’s four-run third. He advanced to third on Will Feil’s groundout and scored on McBryde’s single. McBryde stole second, Blaine Rutledge walked and Dykins followed with 12th homer of the season, down the left-field line.
In the eighth, McBryde set the table with a leadoff walk and went to second on Rutledge’s sacrifice bunt. After consecutive walks to Dykins and Balin
Bergman, followed by a strikeout, Brown singled up the middle, increasing the Mules’ lead to 6-2. Brown then stole second and scored on Perez’s infield single.
