PITTSBURG — Travis Stroup delivered a go-ahead two-run double in the seventh inning to lead the University of Central Missouri baseball team to a 7-4 victory over Pittsburg State University Friday (Mar. 3) at Al Ortolani Field.

The two teams will resume their three-game series with a 1 p.m. game Saturday (Mar. 4).

Pitt State (6-10, 0-4 MIAA) jumped out to a 3-0 first-inning lead on UCM (12-2, 4-0 MIAA) thanks to a pair of walks, a hit batter and a bases-clearing two-out fielding error by the Mules.

Starter Cody Whiting (2-2) pitched into the seventh inning, walking two batters and registering 10 strikeouts. Jackson Schnurbusch, Collin Nevil and Justin Graff-Rowe also hit solo home runs for the Mules.

The Gorillas loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth inning but UCM reliever Andy Muehlberger struck out Pitt State's Andrew Vogelbaugh to end the game.

Dallas Reed tripled in the fifth inning for the Gorillas and drew four bases on balls. He scored two runs.