Baseball | 5/31/2016 4:01:26 PM

Cary, N.C. – Central Missouri got a strong pitching effort as they shut out Franklin Pierce 6-0 in an elimination game at the NCAA Division II Baseball Championship.
 
Central Missouri struck first in the bottom of the second as Cole Distler sacrificed home Bennett Oliver to give the Mules a 1-0 lead. Distler would grab another RBI with a sacrifice fly driving home Oliver once again to make it a 2-0 lead.
 
Dylan Farrell would then walk with the bases loaded for the Mules in the bottom of the seventh inning forcing home Matt Safranek.
 
UCM would add some runs in the bottom of the eight as Distler drove in his third run of the day with a single to right field. Jackson Schnurbusch would then double down the left field line to bring home Distler and Safranek.
 
For the Mules Bennett Oliver was three for four with two runs scored while Distler went one for three and drove in three runs. Derek Cornell finished two for three with a run scored.
 
On the mound Ethan Westphal pitched seven innings of shutout baseball scattering five hits and striking out four. Tayler Ross came on to pitch the final two innings and pick up the save.

 
UCM will now take on Cal Poly Pomona at 2 p.m. on June 1 from the USA Baseball Training Complex in Cary, N.C.