ATCHISON, Kansas – The 10th-ranked Central Methodist University baseball team put on a home run derby in Game 1 of Sunday's doubleheader with Benedictine University, smashing seven in the contest and eight on the day, as the Eagles split their two games with the Ravens. CMU took a 19-6 victory in the opener, then added another round tripper in Game 2, but the Ravens scored a run in the bottom of the seventh to salvage a 4-3 win at Olsen Stadium.

The teams split their four-game weekend series and remain tied with MidAmerica Nazarene University atop the Heart of America Athletic Conference Southern Division standings. Central Methodist now stands at 26-7 on the season and 11-3 in the Heart, while Benedictine holds a 25-16 season record and a 14-6 league mark. MNU is also 14-6 in the Heart, as the teams are .086 behind the Eagles. MidAmerica Nazarene is 24-10 on the year.

GAME 1 RECAP
The top half of the Central Methodist lineup was on fire in the opener, with the top five hitters posting 14 of the Eagles' 22 hits in the game. That total included six home runs.

Three CMU players posted four hits in the first game alone. Zach Beckner (SR/Versailles, Kent.) (right photo) crushed a pair of home runs, while finishing 4-of-5, with four runs batted in and two runs scored. Fernando Villegas (JR/Hutchinson, Minn.) was also 4-for-5, with a homer, a double, three RBIs and a run scored. Dustyn Macaluso (SR/Sacramento, Calif.) had a 4-for-5 outing, with a home run, a pair of runs batted in and four runs scored.

Central Methodist lead-off hitter Jared Johnson (JR/DeKalb, Ill.) went 3-for-5, with a round-tripper, two runs batted in and two runs scored, Quinn Conley (SR/Thousand Oaks, Calif.) had a 2-for-4 game at the dish, with a home run, a walk, three RBIs and three runs scored. Andrew Thomas (JR/Parker, Colo.) also had a multi-hit game, posting a 3-for-5 effort, with a double and three runs batted in.

Logan Haring (FR/DeKalb, Ill.) connected with a home run and added a walk, drove in a run and scored twice on a 1-for-3 effort, and Brandon Alcala (JR/Alameda, Calif.) went 1-for-4, with a walk and a run scored. Riley Richarz (JR/Milwaukee, Wisc.) also scored in the game.

The Ravens finished the contest with seven hits, including a pair of home runs. Michael Slaten and Rocky DeSantis each posted a pair of hits. Matthew Jarecki (1-for-2) and Logan Finley (1-for-3) each hit homers.

Tyler Hull (SO/New Franklin, Mo.) started the game on the hill for the Eagles and improved his season mark to 6-2, as he picked up the win. In four frames he allowed five runs on six hits, with five strikeouts and four walks. Jeff Castillo (SO/Bronx, NY), Ryan Franklin (SR/O'Fallon, Mo.) and Joe Lewis (SO/Coon Rapids, Minn.) also saw action on the mound, combining to work three innings, while allowing just one run on one hit, with three strikeouts and no walks.

Kaden Miller (2-6) took the loss for the Ravens. In three innings he gave up four runs on six hits, with a strikeout and a pair of walks.

This contest that took nearly three hours to play was dominated by CMU. The teams were tied 1-1 after the opening frame, but the Eagles scored three runs in the third, three more in the fourth, two in the fifth and three in the sixth inning. Central Methodist then iced the contest with a seven-run seventh inning.

GAME 2 RECAP
Central Methodist University battled back from a 3-0 first-inning deficit in Game 2, finally tying the contest, 3-3, in the top of the sixth when Richarz plated on DeAndre Smith (JR/Fresno, Calif.)'s double to deep right field.

But Benedictine's Matthew Jarecki hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh when he led off the inning with his hit over the centerfield fence.

Despite the setback, Central Methodist outhit Benedictine in the contest, 8-6. Macaluso (left photo) hit his second round-tripper of the day, finishing the game 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs and a run scored. Haring finished the game 2-for-3. Smith, Johnson, Beckner and Alcala also had hits for CMU.

Jarecki hit a pair of solo home runs in the game for the Ravens, finishing the game 2-for-4 from his lead-off spot in the lineup. Daryl Myers singled twice.

Chris Danielson (SR/Saugus, Calif.) (4-1) was the losing pitcher, going the distance for CMU. In six frames he allowed two earned runs (4 total) on six hits. He fanned 11 batters and walked only two.

Michael Slaten (3-0) picked up the win for Benedictine. He also went the distance, giving up three runs on eight hits with five strikeouts and no walks.

WHAT'S UP NEXT FOR THE EAGLES?
Central Methodist will travel to Peru, Neb. on Tuesday to face Peru State College in a 1 p.m. doubleheader that was postponed earlier this season. The Eagles will then visit Columbia College Wednesday at 6 p.m. in a nine-inning non-conference matchup.

CMU Baseball Contact: John Krueger
Phone: 936-332-9332 | jkrueger@centralmethodist.edu
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Website: www.CMUEagles.com