JOPLIN, Mo. -- The University of Central Missouri baseball team broke open a 4-4 game with two runs in the bottom of the fourth and two more in the sixth inning en route to a 9-5 victory over Pittsburg State University in the semifinal round of the 2021 MIAA Baseball Championship presented by Mammoth Construction Thursday (May 20).

The Gorillas (28-15) fall into the loser's bracket of the double elimination tournament and will now face Rogers State University at 3 p.m. Friday (May 21) at Warren Turner Field. The Hillcats dropped a 19-6 decision to the University of Central Oklahoma Thursday.

Scott Wolverton doubled home Donovan Ditto with the go-ahead run in the fourth against Pitt State starter David Henderson (7-5). Ditto led the Mules nine-hit attack by going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Harrison Schnurbusch and Alex Madera each homered for No. 2 ranked UCM (37-6).

Cruz Aranda and Greyson Pinkett had two hits apiece for the Gorillas. Aranda drove in two runs, while Ryan Koval scored twice in the contest.