CMU VS. MVC GAME PHOTO GALLERY | SENIOR NIGHT GALLERY
FAYETTE, Mo. – The No. 5-ranked Central Methodist University baseball team reached the 39-win mark on the final night of the regular season on Friday, dodging the rain and then receiving a pair of strong pitching performances from Tyler Hull (SO/New Franklin, Mo.) and Kyle Fulton (JR/Monroe City, Mo.). The two picked up wins on the hill as the Eagles wrapped up the No. 2 seed in the upcoming Heart of America Athletic Conference Postseason Tournament with a 3-2, 7-0 sweep of Missouri Valley College here at Estes Field on Senior Night.
After the contest was pushed back three hours because of a steady rain earlier in the day, the Eagles put it together on the field, as Hull improved to 8-3 on the year and he combined with Josh Thomas (SR/Parker, Colo.) for a six-hitter. Hull fanned seven and walked two, giving up just two runs. Thomas picked up the save, giving up just one hit in one inning. Fulton (5-0) fanned 11 batters in Game 2, scattering four hits over six scoreless innings, while allowing just one walk. Ryan Franklin (SR/O'Fallon, Mo.) came out of the bullpen to work the last frame.
Quinn Conley (SR/Thousand Oaks, Calif.) and Logan Haring (FR/DeKalb, Ill.) led the CMU offensive attack with three hits apiece. Conley was 3-for-5, with a pair of walks, a double and a run scored. Haring was also 3-for-5, with a double, three RBIs and two runs scored, as the Eagles recorded 15 hits on the night.
With the sweep, Central Methodist improved to 39-13 and 23-9 in conference play, sewing up the Heart Southern Division championship. The Heart tournament will take place on May 3-9 at U.S. Ballpark in Ozark, Mo. The Eagles will play on Thursday at 4 p.m. against the No. 7-seed, which hasn't been decided yet. Twelve teams will advance to the tournament, with two single-elimination play-in games set for Wednesday at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. See the bracket HERE.
GAME 1 RECAP
After battling to a 2-2 tie heading into the bottom of the fifth frame in Game 1, CMU pushed across what turned out to be the winning run on a hit and an error to secure the 3-2 win. Jared Johnson (JR/DeKalb, Ill.) reached base on an error to start the frame and moved to second on Dustyn Macaluso (SR/Sacramento, Calif.)'s sacrifice bunt. Johnson moved to third on Conley's single to left. Then, with the bases loaded Haring hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield to push Johnson and that clinched the victory.
Conley doubled and went 2-for-3 to lead the Eagles. Beckner also connected with a double and drove in a run and drew a walk. Haring had the third double for CMU in the game. Macaluso singled, scored a run and stole a base and Andrew Thomas (JR/Parker, Colo.) went 1-for-2, with a walk and a run driven in.
Trey Ramirez (2-5) was the losing pitcher for Missouri Valley College (17-34, 7-25 Heart). In 4.1 innings he allowed three runs on six hits, with two strikeouts and three walks. Cody Price was the leading hitter for the Vikings, finishing 2-for-4.
GAME 2 RECAP
A five-run fifth inning put the second contest away, as Central Methodist outhit MVC 9-4. Eight different CMU players contributed hits to the attack. Haring had a pair of singles in three at-bats, finishing with a run scored and two RBIs. Jared Johnson, Macaluso, Conley, Fernando Villegas (JR/Hutchinson, Minn.), DeAndre Smith (JR/Fresno, Calif.), Thomas and Brandon Alcala (JR/Alameda, Calif.) all had one hit. Thomas drove in three runs.
The Vikings were limited to just four singles. Mike Simanek (3-3) was the losing pitcher, giving up two runs on four hits, with two strikeouts and two walks in four innings.
WHAT'S UP NEXT FOR THE EAGLES?
Central Methodist will now prepare for the Heart of America Athletic Conference Postseason Tournament, which gets underway Wednesday with a pair of play-in games. The Eagles will play at 4 p.m. Thursday in the double-elimination round.
CMU Baseball Contact: John Krueger
Phone: 936-332-9332 | jkrueger@centralmethodist.edu
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Website: www.CMUEagles.com
