WARRENSBURG, Mo. – Trading the lead all afternoon, Minnesota State came up short 12-10 to No. 2 ranked University of Central Missouri Thursday afternoon at Crane Stadium in the opening game of the NCAA Division II Central Region Tournament. The Mavericks posted 13 hits but a five-run eighth inning was the difference for the Mules.
 
No. 8 seed Minnesota State (37-19), playing in its fifth straight NCAA Regional, plays an elimination game Friday at 2 p.m. in Warrensburg against the loser of No. 4 seed Augustana and No. 5 seed Southern Oklahoma.
 
"Like all year, just proud of our effort," said head coach Matt Magers. "We overcame some obstacles and ultimately put some guys in position late to be one swing away from being right there. Super proud of the way we battled and I'm really excited about tomorrow to see how we bounce back."
 
The Mavericks started with three runs in the top of the first inning. Ryan Wickman was hit by a pitch with one out. Then Louis Magers doubled to right center for his 61^st run batted in. Matthew Fleischhacker followed with a two-run home run to left field, his fourth of the season (first of the postseason).
 
"That's the great thing about our team. Every week somebody else steps up," Magers said. "Last week it was Ryan Friedges and today it was Matt Fleischhacker. It's a total team effort and we need those guys."
 
Aidan Byrne pasted a double off the wall in left center with two outs in the second but the Mavericks lost a video review challenge on a ground ball to end the threat. After Mitch Gutknecht struck out the side, Fleischhacker's two-out double one-hopped the wall in left center in the top of the third but UCM starting pitcher Connor Wolf left him stranded.
 
A pair of singles put runners at the corners for the Mules in the third. Jack Schark grounded one through the left side for a run. Chase Heath tied the game 3-3 with a two-run home run to left field in the fourth. A sudden downpour sent the game into a 22-minute rain delay in the top of the fifth.
 
Wickman was the first hitter to the plate at the resumption of play. The senior lifted an RBI double off the left center field fence for a 4-3 lead. Magers poked a single off the end of the bat into center field to score Wickman.
 
"Ultimately, you like to see those guys at the middle of the order come through and Wickman definitely did after the delay," said Magers.
 
The Mules closed the gap in the sixth. Gutknecht hit Max Holy with a pitch, then allowed a double into the left field corner to Vance Tobol. Heath singled in Tobol for a 5-5 score. Jacob Steele singled to right field for the Mules' first lead of the game. Cale Haugen relieved Mitch Gutknecht on the hill but a wild pitch cost the Mavericks another run.
 
After loading the bases in the seventh, Lincoln Berry was hit by a pitch and Hunter Ranweiler walked. The Mavericks seized the lead again on a Nick Baker double down the left field line. A wild pitch made it 10-7 before a strikeout ended the two-out rally.
 
Home runs by Brennen vanBreusegen and Jacob Steele enabled UCM to answer with five runs in their half of the seventh for a 12-10 advantage.
 
Magers doubled, Fleischhacker walked, and Friedges reached via hit by pitch with two outs in the eighth. Berry grounded into a fielder's choice to end the inning. The Mavericks threatened again in the ninth with a pair of base runners but did not score.
 
Byrne and Louis Magers notched three hits apiece and Magers drove in a pair of runs, along with Hunter Ranweiler and Fleischhacker. Cale Haugen (L, 6-3) allowed five earned runs and suffered the loss in relief. JD McReynolds (W, 8-1) collected the win from the bullpen for the Mules. Jake Wilson faced six batters in the ninth to earn his first save of the season.
 
"Defensively, I thought we played really well," Magers reflected. "And offensively had some great performances and just came up a little bit short. Tomorrow, I think the main thing for our pitchers is just throw strikes. If there are walks and free passes, good teams like (Central Missouri) will make you pay. Give credit to their hitters for finding ways to get on base and foul off tough pitches. For us, it's about throwing strikes and playing good defense and we know our offense will find ways to score."