BOX SCORE (PDF)

WARRENSBURG, Missouri – The University of Central Missouri Mules scored a 7-4 win over the Northwest Missouri State University baseball team on Saturday. The Mules took the three-game series, 2-1.
 
UCM (28-12, 19-8 MIAA) started the scoring in the first on a two-run homer by Erik Webb. The Mules would add to the lead in the third with an RBI double from Webb in the third and then another on an RBI groundout to third to up the margin to 4-0.
 
The Bearcats (18-22, 14-13 MIAA) began to chip away at the 4-0 deficit in the fourth. Derek Hussey laced a two-RBI single to center that scored Matt Gastner and Jay Hrdlicka. Connor Quick followed later on with a two-out single to right that plated Hussey to cut the lead to 4-3.
 
Bearcat starting pitcher Joe Funkhouser settled in after a rocky start. Funkhouser allowed four runs in the first two-plus innings, but then retired 13 consecutive UMC batters from the third inning into the seventh inning. Funkhouser went 6 1/3 innings allowing six hits and six runs while striking out five.
 
UCM was able to chase Funkhouser in the seventh. UCM scored three runs on one hit and benefitted from a pair of Bearcat errors in taking a 7-3 lead through seven innings.
 
Aaron Easley relieved Funkhouser and finished the game for the Bearcats. Easley pitched 1 2/3 and gave up two hits, one run (unearned) and struck out a batter.
 
Gastner pulled the Bearcats to within 7-4 with a solo blast in the eighth. It was Gastner's second home run of the series after he hit his first round-tripper of the season Thursday.
 
Northwest will travel to Kansas City on Tuesday to take on Rockhurst at 6 p.m.
 
NOTES: Hrdlicka recorded his sixth game of three or more hits this year … Hussey notched his fifth multi-RBI game this season … Quick extended his hitting streak to 17 games … Quick has reached base in 24 consecutive games.