Boll Weevils Fall to No. 4 Mules on Late Home Run

Courtesy University of Arkansas at Monticello Athletics Department

HOUSTON, Texas — Central Missouri’s Kyle Grieshaber hit a two-run homerun in the bottom of the seventh to give the fourth-ranked Mules a 2-1 victory over the University of Arkansas at Monticello baseball team on Monday in UAM’s final game of the Astros in Action DII Invitational at Minute Maid Park.

The Boll Weevils (1-3) received five shutout innings from senior starter Kenny Marshall, who only allowed two hits, struck out one and walked only three of the 21 batters he faced.

Marshall was given a one-run cushion in the top of the third inning when junior teammate D’Marco Poindexter delivered an RBI double down the right field line to score junior Chad Miller, who singled to lead off the inning.

The UCM pitching staff only allowed the Boll Weevils to reach scoring position twice more throughout the final six innings, both times coming in the form of junior Tyler Caruthers, who doubled in the fifth and completed his 2-for-2 game with a one-out single in the eighth. Caruthers was able to move up to second on a wild pitch, but was left stranded there followed a strikeout and a fly out to right field.

Down by one in the top of the ninth, sophomore Bronson Gilliam drew a two-out bases-empty walk to put the go-ahead run at the plate, but junior Ben Agredano grounded out to first base to seal the come-from-behind victory for the Mules (3-1).

UCM reliever Jake Heissler (1-0) was the pitcher of record for the Mules, keeping UAM scoreless on only one hit with two strikeouts in 1.1 innings of work. Andrew Urban picked up the save after retiring Agredano in the ninth with the tying run on first.

Senior Eddie Smith (0-1) took the loss for UAM after giving up the homerun to Grieshaber in the seventh. Smith allowed two hits, struck out one and walked one in his two innings of relief.

Senior reliever Brent Noble continued his streak of retired batters, setting down the UCM side in the bottom of the eighth for a total of 10 consecutive retired batters dating back to Saturday’s 5-3 win over Tarleton State.

The Boll Weevils are scheduled for their home opener next weekend, February 8-10, with a three-game series against Northwest Missouri State.