Box Score PITTSBURG — No. 5 Central Missouri jumped out to a 5-1 lead and held on for a 6-4 victory over Pitt State Sunday (May 6) at Al Ortolani Field.

The MIAA champion Mules (41-7, 34-4 MIAA) advance to the post-season to compete in the MIAA Tournament next week, while the Gorillas (20-28, 16-22 MIAA) complete their season as well as the 22-year tenure of head coach Steve Bever, who will retire following the season.

Gabe Thibodeau and Albert Selanders each went 2-for-4 in the contest for UCM. Selanders scored two runs, while Thobodeau had a run scored and an RBI.

Pitt State tried to rally from the early deficit, scoring three runs in the seventh to pull within a run at 5-4. Evan Thomas belted a three-run homer in the big inning off UCM reliever Adam Maddox, after Jacoby Martin and Luke Bordewick got back-to-back two-out hits to chase UCM starter Chris Fitzpatrick.

The Mules added an insurance run in the ninth inning for a two-run lead and closer Travis Unthank recorded the final six outs for UCM to preserve the win.

Thomas went 3-for-5 with two runs scored. Ryan Ventura, Ryan Reddick and Bordewick all collected two hits for the Gorillas.