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Mules claim Central Regional title

(Photo by Dave Kopp)

Mules proudly display the NCAA-II Central Regional Championship Trophy

For the 14th time in school history, the Central Missouri Mules are headed to the NCAA Division II World Series after defeating Nebraska-Omaha 11-6 Sunday afternoon in Emporia Kan. for the Central Region title.

The Mules (45-15) won four games in four days as the No. 4 seed, taking out the one, two, and three seeds along the way. It was the first time UCM has won the regional title at a true road site since 1990 in Edwardsville, Ill., not too far from where this year’s Championships are being held in Sauget, Ill. at GCS Ballpark.

Central Missouri did it with timely hitting and pitching all weekend and it was no different on championship Sunday. UCM got the game started with an RBI double down the right field line by senior outfielder Blaine Rutledge to score junior Will Feil. Balin Bergman drove Rutledge in a few batters later when he crushed a 3-2 double to right center to put the Mules up 2-0.

They tacked on three more in the next inning after drawing three consecutive walks to start. Senior Chris Brown scored on a wild pitch before senior shortstop Brian McBryde singled in Luis Perez with one out. Rutledge picked up his second RBI after that on a sacrifice fly to right center to make it 5-0.

Central Missouri’s offense took advantage of nine UNO walks through the first six innings while doling out only two free passes after the second inning. Central Missouri used three freshmen and a sophomore on the mound in the game, holding one of the best offensive clubs in the region to minimal damage most of the day. Tom Latimore spelled starter Matt Curtis after 1.1 innings and tossed the next four-plus frames.

The Mavericks fought back during that span, cutting it to one by the sixth frame before the Mules offense got back on track, plating four in the bottom half of the frame to put it out of reach. Rutledge got RBI No. 3 with a single up the middle before a huge Iain Dykins double scored two more.

Just for measure, Rutledge smashed a triple in the next frame to score the final run of the day for UCM. He finished a home run short of the cycle, going 3-of-4 with four RBI and two runs scored.

The Mavs tacked on two runs in the eighth but it was too late as Alex Kent got the final five outs and ended the game with a ground out to second base. All that was left was the traditional dog pile and trophy celebration.

Five Mules were named to the All-Central Region Tournament Team. Blaine Rutledge, Iain Dykins, Brian McBryde, and Luis Perez, as closer Chris Matlock grabbed MVP honors.