BALDWIN CITY, Kan. – After not being able to hold off Baker University in the bottom of the seventh of Game 1 after holding a 4-2 lead, the No. 5-ranked Central Methodist University Eagles came back with a strong Game 2 performance and blanked BU, 2-0, to take a split in the doubleheader played at Sauder Field Saturday afternoon. BU won Game 1, 5-4.
CMU remains tied atop the Heart of America Athletic Conference Southern Division standings with the split. The Eagles (34-12) are tied with Benedictine University (29-18), as both teams sit at 18-8 in league play heading into Sunday's action. Baker, who sits in sixth place in the division, is now 15-31, 8-18 in league play.
The Eagles outhit the Wildcats in both games, holding a 9-7 advantage in the opener and posting a 6-3 advantage in Game 2.
GAME 1 RECAP
The Eagles held a 4-2 lead going into the bottom of the seventh inning of the opener, but Baker managed three runs on three hits, with the final run coming across the plate on a walk with two outs.
Zach Beckner (SR/Versailles, Kent.) led the Central Methodist attack in the game, finishing 2-for-3, with a double and two RBIs. Jared Johnson (JR/DeKalb, Ill.) went 2-for-4 with a run scored, and DeAndre Smith (JR/Fresno, Calif.) posted a 2-for-4 game, driving in a run. Dustyn Macaluso (SR/Sacramento, Calif.) doubled and walked in two at-bats and plated twice, while Quinn Conley (SR/Thousand Oaks, Calif.) singled, walked, drove in a run and scored once, and Fernando Villegas (JR/Hutchinson, Minn.) singled.
Max Taulbee led the Wildcats with a 2-for-2 effort, scoring twice and drawing a walk. Damon Nolan also had two hits, including a double. He drove in three runs and scored once.
Tyler Hull (SO/New Franklin, Mo.) (7-3) received the loss on the hill for the Eagles. In 6.1 innings he allowed five runs (4 earned) on seven hits, with eight strikeouts and five walks. Joe Lewis (SO/Coon Rapids, Minn.) also pitched for CMU.
Bennett White (5-2) picked up the victory in relief for Baker. In one inning, he gave up one run on one hit, with a pair of walks.
GAME 2 RECAP
Dariel Checo (SO/New York, NY) (7-1) (pictured) had a stellar pitching performance for Central Methodist as he picked up the Game 2 victory. In seven scoreless innings he gave up only three hits, while fanning 12 and walking only three. Justin Madsen (1-4) was the losing hurler for the Wildcats. He also went the distance, giving up two unearned runs on six hits, with five strikeouts and three walks.
Macaluso went 2-for-4 at the dish to lead the CMU offense. He also drove in a run. Johnson, Beckner, Villegas and Smith all added singled for the attack.
With the game in a scoreless tie heading into the seventh inning, Central Methodist pushed across two runs with two outs in the inning, on three hits and an error to record the win. Riley Richarz (JR/Milwaukee, Wisc.) plated on a single by Johnson and Thomas plated on a single Macaluso.
WHAT'S UP NEXT FOR THE EAGLES?
Central Methodist will complete its four-game series with Baker University in Baldwin City, Kan., on Sunday, taking on the Wildcats in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. Tuesday's scheduled home non-conference doubleheader against Harris-Stowe State University on Tuesday has now been cancelled and will not be made up.
CMU Baseball Contact: John Krueger
Phone: 936-332-9332 | jkrueger@centralmethodist.edu
CMU Athletics: Twitter | Facebook
CMU Baseball: Twitter
Website: www.CMUEagles.com
