The Central Missouri Mules are now in the elimination bracket, after Lenoir-Rhyne pasted six runs in the first inning, en route to a 12-9 outcome Sunday, June 1 at the NCAA Division II College World Series in Cary, N.C.

The Mules struggled early, as starting pitcher Jack Kreisman gave up two singles, a hit-by-pitch, back-to-back walks, and then a grand slam in the top of the first inning. UCM began to dig out with two runs in the first and three in the third, getting within two runs twice in the contest. The Mules also added runs in the fifth, seventh and eighth, while Lenoir-Rhyne added runs in the second, fourth, fifth, and ninth. Sal Carricato recorded five runs batted in for Lenoir-Rhyne, including a two-run home run in the fourth and being hit by a pitch in the ninth for the game’s final run. Grant Hollister led the Mules offense by going two-for-three with three RBIs, bringing in runs with a triple in the third and single in the fifth. He also advanced to third on a wild pitch in the eighth that scored Chase Heath.

The Mules fall to the elimination bracket, where they face East Stroudsburg on Tuesday afternoon at 12:30 p.m. The winner will face Lenoir-Rhyne in a semifinal, needing to beat the Bears twice to advance to the best-of-three finals.