EDMOND, Okla. -- The University of Central Missouri baseball team pounded out 15 runs on 19 hits as the Mules advanced in the 2022 MIAA Baseball Championship with a 15-4 victory over Pittsburg State University Friday (May 13).

The win sent the Mules (40-7) into the losers' bracket final against Northeastern State University Friday night. The winner of that game will meet Washburn University in the tournament championship game Saturday (May 14) at Noon. The Gorillas (31-21) now await the NCAA Division II National Tournament bracket release Sunday evening to see if their season is extended or comes to an end.

UCM struck for four runs in the top of the first inning Friday, but Pitt State countered with three runs in the bottom of the frame thanks to a two-run home run by Garrett McGowan and a solo blast by Jordan Maxson.

The Mules added two runs in the second and another run in the third before putting the game out of reach with an eight-run top of the ninth.

Pitt State's Tanner Lane pitched 6.0 scoreless innings of relief to quiet the Mules bats and give the Gorillas a chance to rally. UCM reliever Conner Wolf (4-1) matched Lane by limiting Pitt State to just three hits in 6.0 innings of work.

Mason Hartman finished the game 2-for-4 at the plate, the only Gorillas to collect two hits in the contest.