Mules Sweep Eerie Twin Bill From SBU

May 2, 2006, 10:08

Dave Kopp

Central Missouri State baseball players found themselves in a fog Monday during the second game of a doubleheader with Southwest Baptist. The Mules play was sharp, however. CMSU swept the twin bill. (Photo by Dave Kopp)

WARRENSBURG, Mo. -- Rolling with Mother Nature's punches, Central Missouri State swept an MIAA doubleheader from Southwest Baptist Monday at Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field. The Mules won 6-1 and 13-3 to improve to 37-10, 19-5 in conference play.

The twin bill was originally slated for Tuesday, but CMSU's four-game set against Washburn was rained out at Topeka, Kan. over the weekend. Two of those games have been rescheduled for Wednesday, so Mules' head coach Darin Hendrickson requested the SBU doubleheader be moved to Monday.

CMSU's Bryan McBryde makes a foggy slide into third during the second game of Monday's doubleheader against SBU. (Photo by Dave Kopp)

Ironically, the weather took a turn for the worse, as a spring rain shower delayed the start of game one 52 minutes. CMSU quickly took care of business, needing only 88 minutes to pull off a 6-1 victory.

The Mules took command with a three-run first inning. Gered Mochizuki and Cody Berg got things started with back-to-back doubles. Josh Paul added an RBI double and an error allowed run number three to score.

Central Missouri added single runs in the second, third and fourth innings to lead 6-0.

Right-hander Judson Smith tossed a complete-game six-hitter, striking out eight and walking one while allowing only one run.

Berg went 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and David Baker went 2-for-3 to lead the Mules' nine-hit attack. Adam Milauskas belted his ninth home run in the third inning.

In the nightcap, the offense turned it up a notch, pounding 17 hits in a 13-3 rout. The Mules scored at least one run in every inning but the second in a game played in the midst of a fog that engulfed the field.

CMSU's Will Feil slides safely into second base during game two of Monday's doubleheader against Southwest Baptist. Feil went 4-for-5 to lead a 17-hit attack in the nightcap. (Photo by Dave Kopp)

Will Feil led the charge, going 4-for-5 with a double, three runs scored and one RBI. Cole Armstrong added three hits, including a double and three RBIs, Milauskas also had three hits and scored three runs while Baker and Mochizuki drove in two runs each, Paul belted a solo homer in the third and Matt Pesch added a two-run pinch single.

Freshman Brent Robison pitched five innings to earn his second win of the year. The right-hander struck out five and walked one. Chad Barben worked a scoreless sixth and Chris Radliff struck out the side in the seventh.

The sweep keeps the Mules just one game behind Emporia State in the loss column in the MIAA race. The Hornets face Missouri Southern in a doubleheader Tuesday.

Central Missouri and Washburn play Wednesday with game one beginning at 6 p.m.