By: Justin Wollard, Media Relations Director
Game one | Game two | Season stats
BOLIVAR, Mo. -- Behind a three-homer game from Paden Grubbs, the SBU Bearcats came from 8-1 down, to defeat the #2 Central Missouri Mules 12-11, and earned a split in the two-game series.
The second game was called due to darkness in the ninth inning. By NCAA rule, the score reverted to the last completed inning (8th) which gave the Bearcats the 12-11 win.
Grubbs went 4-for-5 during his big game, knocking in five on a three-run shot in the fourth inning, a solo blast in the sixth and the game-winning solo shot to lead off the bottom of the eighth. Justin Crumpley also had a big second game, driving in three runs on two hits. Mike Nicks picked up the win with a strong effort out of the bullpen, holding UCM scoreless over the final 2.2 innings.
Grubbs became the first SBU player with three home runs in a game since Gus Marsala in 2003. Marsala went deep three times in a 15-4 SBU win over Truman.
After Central (23-3, 16-2 MIAA) led 8-1 in the nightcap, the Bearcats (6-23, 5-17 MIAA) exploded for six runs in the fourth. The big blast came from Grubbs and SBU also got RBI singles from Nigel Morton, Justin Barnhart and Niko Saladis. After the Mules got a run in the fifth and two more in the sixth, the Bearcats added single runs in the fifth and sixth innings.
SBU trailed 11-9 in the seventh before Crumpley doubled down the right field line scoring Taylor Trotter and Kyle Wise. With Grubbs at the plate and the bases loaded with two outs, Crumpley was thrown out in a close play at the plate trying to score on a wild pitch.
The Bearcats led early in the opener 5-2, but Central used the long ball to rally. The Mules led 8-5 heading into the seventh inning, and added six runs in the top half of the last inning to put the game away. Grubbs had a solid first game, driving in two on two hits. The Mules pounded four homers in the opener, including a three-run shot from Chance Tuttle.
SBU returns to action this Friday and Saturday, when they visit #26 Nebraska-Omaha for a four-game set. The doubleheaders begin at 1:00 p.m. Friday and noon on Saturday.
