By JACOB WOERTHER
Sports Editor

Mules crush Fort Hays State 10-0 in home opener

(WARRENSBURG, Mo., digitalBURG) — The Mules started their first series at home off on the right foot with 12 hits and 10 runs. Zach Girrens pitched a seven-inning shutout and allowed just three hits in Thursday’s game against Fort Hays State.

The Mules put their first points on the board in the second. Erik Webb tripled into centered field and was brought home by a RBI single from Miles Orschlen.

Central stacked six more runs in the third. Jackson Schnurbusch started the rally with a triple to right center. Blake Wilfong brought Schnurbusch home with an RBI single. Following a single from Justin Graff-Rowe that advanced Schnurbuch to third, Travis Stroup dropped a bunt and brought in the Mules third run of the day. Graff-Rowe scored off an RBI single from Collin Nevil and Webb drove in two more runs with a single. Webb reached home for Central’s seventh and final run of the inning off a sacrifice fly form Elijah Dilday.

The score stayed 7-0 until the bottom of the fifth when Stroup sent one over the left field wall to give the Mules an eight-run lead. Stroup, however, was not finished for the day. In the bottom of the seventh he hit an RBI double and scored off a wild pitch.

Girrens pitched all seven innings for the Mules and allowed just three hits and two walks over 85 pitches. He had seven strikeouts on the day and allowed only one runner from the Tigers to reach second base. Girrens performance earned him his first win of the season.

Grirrens was backed by his offense that had an equally dominant outing. Stroup had three hits and three RBIs on four at-bats. Webb walked away with a pair of hits and RBIs, and Nevil and Orschlen both had two hits and one RBI.

Burns leads Mules to 5-2 victory

Taylor Burns kept the Tigers scoreless through seven innings Friday at Crane Stadium Tompkins Field.

Burns, however, was not alone in this victory. The Mules offense took some pressure off Burns early in the game. In the top of the first, Erik Webb singled with men on the corners and scored Travis Stroup.

With the bases loaded in the second, Justin Schnurbusch crushed a 3-run double into right center to score Blake Wilfong, Matt Safranek and Micheal Bainbridge.

The score stayed 4-0 until the bottom of the seventh. Stroup got on base with a triple and scored off a fielder’s choice hit by Safranek.

Fort Hays retaliated late in the game. In the eighth, Jake Lanferman doubled and drove Ty Redington home. The Tigers had one final sign of life in the ninth, when Jason Nicholson brought in the their second and final run of the game with an RBI single.

Burns threw 84 pitches over seven innings for the Mules. He finished with six strikeouts and allowed just three hits and four walks. Charlie Skantze and Taylor Ross each allowed just one run.

Schurnbusch finished the day with a hit and three RBIs. Justin Graff-Rowe and Collin Nevil each had two hits.

Mules sweep first home series with a 10-2 win over the Tigers

The Mules offense mirrored its performance in game one against Fort Hays, scoring 10 runs off of 12 hits Saturday at Crane Stadium Tompkins Field.

Central came out strong once again and put a run up in the first. Matt Elliot stole second after being walked. Travis Stroup then brought him home with a double to center field.

In the second inning, Elliot batted with the bases loaded. He lined out to left center and Blake Wilfong crossed the plate. On the next at-bat, Stroup got to second on an error and Justin Graff-Rowe and Travis Able scored.

The Tigers fought back in the third, cutting into the Mules’ 4-0 lead. Clayton Basgall tripled and Bryce Witchurch drove him in with an RBI single. The Mules, however, added another run in the bottom of the inning when Erik Webb scored off an infield fly by Miles Orscheln, giving the Mules a 5-1 lead.

The Tigers scored their final run in the fourth courtesy of a single form Dayton Pomeroy that advanced Jake Lanferman home.

The fourth proved to be the Mules’ inning as Elliot sent a two-run homer sailing over the right-center wall. Webb and Jackson Schnurbusch each added a run with RBI singles to give the Mules a 9-2 lead.

Webb grounded-out in the bottom of the fifth and scored Elliot to add Central’s final run of the afternoon and seal the victory.

Steven D’amico picked up his second win of the season after allowing just two runs and a walk over five innings and 76 pitches. Reid Brandon followed D’amico and held the Tigers scoreless over two innings. Luke Mercer and Andy Muehlberger each pitched a scoreless inning to wrap up the game.

The Tiger’s Sam Capps recorded his first loss of the season after allowing seven runs over three innings.

The Mules will host Williams Woods at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28, before hitting the road March 3 for a three-game series at Pittsburg State.