TOPEKA, Kan. (March 2, 2018) - No. 17 Central Missouri Mules Baseball saw their nine-game winning streak come to an end Friday afternoon in Topeka. The Mules fell to Washburn 3-0 in the series opener. It is their first conference loss of the season. They sit at 10-3 overall and 3-1 in the MIAA.

Play-by-Play
• Runs were at a premium as the team's two aces dueled it out. The Ichabods scored a run in the first after a lead-off double and two ground balls advanced the runner.
• Washburn added to their lead in the fourth as four straight reached base. Jake Hahn's single to right scored a pair.
• Central Missouri had plenty of opportunities, starting in the first. With one out, Travis Able and Erik Webb walked, but a ground-ball double-play ended the inning.
• The Mules' best chance to score came in the third. Donovan Ditto and Mason Janvrin each reached base and the Mules were set up with runners on second and third with nobody out. A lineout, strikeout and groundout kept the Mules off the board though. 
• UCM left two more runners on base in the eighth. With two outs, Webb walked to put runners on the corners, but Washburn went to their bullpen to secure the final out of the frame.

Mules Stat Leaders
• It was another solid outing for Ben Kelsch. He threw 6.1 innings and allowed three runs on six hits with two walks and two strikeouts. He drops to 3-1 on the season. 
• Jonathan Sprinkle tossed the final 1.2 innings and retired all five batters he faced with three strikeouts.
• Only three Mules recorded a hit: Mason Janvrin, Justin Graff-Rowe and Donovan Ditto. 
• Erik Webb walked twice.
• Janvrin and Harrison Schnurbusch each stole a base.

For the Ichabods
• Josh Ramirez matched Kelsch and threw 7.2 scoreless innings to earn the win. He gave up three hits, four walks and struck out six.
• Zach Linquist earned his second save with 1.1 scoreless innings of work.
• Darian Abram went 2-4 with a run scored.
• Jake Hahn drove in two runs. Josh Crosby drove in one as well.

News and Notes
• Central Missouri left eight runners on base. At least one runner was left on in six different innings and two left on in two innings.
• The Mules three hits are their fewest this season.
• This is the second time UCM has been shutout this season.
• Central Missouri has allowed three or fewer runs in five of their last seven games and are 6-1 in that span.

Up Next
• Game two of the three game set with Washburn. The two teams will meet again tomorrow afternoon with a 1 p.m. scheduled first pitch.