Truman Hangs Tough But Falls Short In Doubleheader Against The Mules

KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – The Truman Baseball came up short in their battle against the fifth-ranked University of Central Missouri on Tuesday. The Bulldogs dropped a 3-1 decision in the opener and couldn't hold on as the Mules rallied for a 10-7 victory in the nightcap. Truman will head to Hays, Kan. on Saturday for a weekend series with Fort Hays State.

Game 1 Box Score
Central Missouri 3
Truman 1

Samuel Domingue took the second pitch of the game over the left field fence as UCM defeated the Bulldogs 3-1.

The Mules added an unearned run in the second with two outs and Seth Wheeler brought in Kevin Gratza in the fourth to make it 3-0.

Blake Marino doubled to start the fifth inning and came in on a single by Will Nader. Adam Bainbridge followed with a single and Truman brought the go-ahead run to the plate with just one out. Relievers Jake Heissler and Andrew Urban ended the threat by retiring the next two Bulldog hitters.

Urban pitched two and a third and got the final out of the game on a called third strike to pick up his second save of the season.

Tim Lee threw 96 pitches and allowed seven hits over the seven inning game but was tagged with the loss.

Game 2 Box Score
Central Missouri 10
Truman 7

Kevin Gratza's solo home run in the seventh broke a six all tie as the Mules completed the season sweep of the Bulldogs 10-7. Gratza added another home run in the ninth for insurance.

Central led 1-0 after their at bat in the first but the Bulldogs first three hitters reached to start the bottom of the inning.

Chris Zrostlik belted the first grand slam for Truman since 2010 and Truman chased starter Reese Ponak after taking a 4-1 lead after one. Bryce Bond had the last Bulldog slam on April 4, 2010 against Missouri Southern.

Jarod Hahn started a two-out rally in the third and Mike Monfre got a clutch single to erase a Mules run in the top of the inning and make it 5-2.

Barrett Noirfalise hit a two-run homer in the top of the fourth and Trevor Jones added a two-out single to tie the game at five but the Bulldogs regained the lead after Corbin Williams tripled. With Williams on third and Paul Trenhaile on first, Trenhaile alertly took off on a ball in the dirt. Central's catcher tried to throw Trenhaile out allowing Williams to race in from third.

Kyle Grieshaber retied the game in the sixth with a suicide bunt scoring Samuel Domingue.

Gratza gave the Mules the lead with his solo shot in the seventh and Central added two more on a two-out double from Brad Wilson in the eighth.

Trenhailed belted his fourth round tripper of the season in the bottom of the eighth and the Bulldogs brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth but the Mules got the game-ending double-play for the win.

Devon Brogan pitched five innings in relief to get the win while Zack Davis got the final out for his fourth save.

Mark Roberts was followed to the hill by four other Bulldog pitchers with Andrew Range taking the loss.

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