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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Joplin, Mo. - The No. 23-ranked Central Missouri Mules held the Missouri Southern Lions to two runs combined in a doubleheader sweep Saturday afternoon (May 3) at Joe Becker Stadium. The Mules knocked off the Lions 4-0 in eight innings to win the opening contest and then won the second game 6-2. The opener was a classic pitcher's duel as MSSU starting pitcher Matt Mantle and UCM starter Mark Carey each pitched seven shutout innings before the Mules jumped on the board with four runs in the eighth inning. Mantle nearly worked out of the jam in the eighth inning with runners at second and third with only one out as Clay Weatherford was thrown out at home on a fielder's choice by Iain Dykins. But Mike Hallam drew a bases-loaded walk for the first run of the game. Balin Bergman then knocked in three more runs with a triple to right center that put the Mules up 4-0. A Lion error earlier in the inning led to all four tallies being unearned. Mantle pitched all eight innings and allowed no earned runs and struck out three. Carey shut out the Lions on five hits with six strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings. Chris Matlock got the final two outs for UCM to record his seventh save. Lee Hall had two hits for the Lions in game one. The Mules (37-13, 25-7 MIAA) jumped on top 2-0 in the nightcap on an RBI groundout by Blaine Rutledge and a run-scoring single from Mike Hallam. Skyler Rawlins helped the Lions (18-32, 15-19 MIAA) get on the board in the third inning by leading off with a bunt single and later scoring on a single by Juan Hernandez. UCM got some breathing room in the sixth on an RBI double by Chris Brown and a two-run homer from Luis Perez to lead 5-1. Derek Ezell cut the lead to 5-2 in the bottom of the sixth by connecting with a solo shot for his team-leading seventh homer of the season. Brian McBryde then led off the Mules' seventh with a walk and then scored on an RBI double by Rutledge to round out the scoring. UCM starter Jared Potts allowed two runs in six innings and struck out four to earn the victory. Hernandez went 2-3 with an RBI for Southern. The Lions will conclude the 2008 season with a seven and nine-inning doubleheader against the Mules tomorrow (May 4) beginning at 1 p.m.
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