A day after getting out-hit by Henderson State, the No. 2-ranked Central Missouri Mules returned the favor in a big way as they pounded out 23 hits on Saturday afternoon at Cylde Berry Field en route to a 15-4 win.

The Mules (3-0) got the bats rolling early as they collected five hits in the top of the first and raced out to a 4-0 lead. After the rough first inning, Reddie starter Tyler O'Bryant threw consecutive shutout innings in the second and third. O'Bryant was chased from the game in the top of the fourth after the Mules posted another four runs.

The Reddies (6-3) were held hitless until the bottom of the fourth when center fielder Zac Zdanowicz launched a double over the left fielder's head to start the inning. Zdanowicz would eventually score in the inning on a RBI sacrifice fly by Connor Brackhahn. The Reddies would plate two more runs in the fifth inning on a Brachahan two RBI single up the middle and trailed 9-3 through five innings of play.

Nine hits and six runs in the last two innings by the Mules' lineup put the game out of reach.

Brackhahn and Zdanowicz each had two hits in the game. Brackhahn was 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Zdanowicz was 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored. O'Bryant suffered his first loss of the season after working 3.0 innings.

The Reddies will be back in action for the rubber match of the series at Clyde Berry Field on Sunday, February 26th. First pitch is set for noon.