Bolivar, Mo. – Game two of the series with Central Missouri was also decided by one run, an 8-9 finish in favor of the Mules. With the loss, SBU moves to 9-12 (4-7 MIAA) on the year.
 
Dalton Morrow got his 7^th start of the year Saturday, coming in with a 2-1 record. The Mules got a baserunner in scoring position in the first inning, but Morrow struck out the last batter to strand the runner on second. Continuing where they left off, UCM quickly got runners in scoring position and scored 4 runs to take a 4-0 lead. Another two runs were scored in the third inning, giving the Mules a 6-0 lead. SBU got their offense going in their half of the third, beginning with a two out triple by Luke Winfrey. Caleb Sneed then hit an infield single, scoring Winfrey to put the Bearcats on the board. The Bearcats eventually loaded the bases, but only the one run was scored in the third.
 
Central Missouri responded in the fourth, getting that run back. The Bearcats continued to work well with two outs. Tyler Mathys hit a single in the fourth inning and advanced to second after the fielder couldn't get ahold of the ball. Brett Mitchell was the next batter, driving Mathys in to make the score 7-2. The Mules scored another in the fifth and one more in the sixth, pushing their lead to 9-2.
 
In the 7^th inning, Caleb Sneed led off with a walk. After an out, Hunter Hisky doubled to right field, advancing Sneed to third. Sam Avila came in as a pinch hitter and drew a walk to load the bases. Jackson Soule followed with another walk, scoring Sneed. The Bearcats scored another thanks to a wild pitch, making the score 9-4 at the end of the 7^th inning. UCM led off the 8^th inning with a single, but a 6-4-3 double play quickly shifted the momentum to the Bearcats. The next Mule batter singled, but Brett Mitchell threw him out at second on a stolen base attempt.
 
The Bearcats did not give up, scoring another two runs in the 8^th inning. Luke Winfrey drew a one out walk, followed by a Caleb Sneed hit by pitch and a Blake Lutgen walk to load the bases. Hunter Hisky drove one run in on a sacrifice fly, making the score 9-5. It was then Sam Avila who was hit by a pitch, loading the bases once again, then Jackson Soule walked to bring another run in. Heading into the bottom of the 9^th, the Bearcats trailed 9-6. Tyler Mathys reached on a dropped third strike, keeping the momentum in favor of SBU. Brett Mitchell walked, moving Mathys to second. Luke Winfrey followed with a single, loading the bases. Senior Caleb Sneed came in clutch, hitting a single up the middle to bring in Mathys and Mitchell, cutting UCM's lead to just 9-8. Hunter Hisky later reached on an infield single to load the bases, but SBU wouldn't score again, ending the game 9-8.
 
Three Bearcats had two hits, Caleb Sneed, Hunter Hisky, and Luke Winfrey. Sneed was responsible for 3 RBIs and Jackson Soule also drove in 2 RBIs. The Mules had a tough time stealing bases, Brett Mitchell threw out three UCM base runners in the game.
 
The rubber match of the series will be played at 1 PM on Sunday.