EDMOND, Okla. – Central Missouri collected four straight wins in the 2022 MIAA Baseball Championship to claim its fourth consecutive tournament title.
Following the tournament’s best-of-three series on campus sites May 6-8, the four advancing teams met on Central Oklahoma’s Wendall Simmons Field for the final, double elimination rounds of the championship.
Top-seeded Central Missouri suffered a 13-15 loss to No. 5 seed Washburn in the opening game in Edmond. After the loss, the Mules collected back-to-back wins to secure the final spot in the championship game where they would meet the Ichabods once again. Without a loss in the tournament, the Mules would have to defeat Washburn twice on Saturday, May 14, to win the title.
In a back-and-forth battle, UCM extended the 2022 championship with a 16-13, 10-inning win over Washburn to force the final, if necessary game.
The Ichabods jumped to a quick 7-1 lead over the Mules through the first three innings. Central Missouri plated four runs in the top of the fourth which the Ichabods answered with three runs of their own to hold their lead at 10-5. Central Missouri’s six-run performance in the top of the eighth would be the game-changing inning as the Mules took a 13-12 advantage. In a fight for their first MIAA title, Washburn scored one in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game. The Mules offense scored three runs in the top of the 10th and the Mule defense held the Ichabods scoreless for UCM to earn the 16-13 victory and extend the tournament to another game.
In the tournament finale, the Mules led the Ichabdos 4-3 through the first four innings. Central Missouri scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth for the biggest lead of the game at 8-3. Each team plated two more runs before the final inning. The Mules defense collected three straight outs in the top of the ninth, ended the game with a 10-5 win over the Ichabods.
The victory claimed the Mules fourth consecutive tournament title and 15th overall. Central Missouri also earned the Association’s automatic qualifier into the 2022 NCAA Central Region Championship, set for May 19-21.
MIAA teams will find out their postseason fates and destinations during the NCAA Selection Show on Sunday, May 15 at 9 p.m. on NCAA.com.
Below is the list of student-athletes named to the 2022 MIAA All-Tournament Team. For more information on the 2022 MIAA Baseball Championship and to see the final results of each game, visit the tournament's
championship central page.
2022 MIAA All-Tournament Team
2022 MIAA All-Tournament Team
Isaiah Pani – Catcher – Central Missouri
(Most Outstanding Player)
Connor Scott – Outfielder – Central Missouri
Sam Tatum – Outfielder – Central Missouri
Easton Bruce – Outfielder – Washburn
Donovan Ditto – Infielder – Central Missouri
John Prudhom – Infielder – Central Missouri
Brett Ingram – Infielder – Washburn
Tyler Clark-Chiapparelli – Infielder – Washburn
Connor Wolf – Pitcher – Central Missouri
Brady Gavin – Pitcher – Central Missouri
John Cross – Pitcher – Washburn
Parker Dunn – Designated Hitter – Washburn