Kansas City, Mo. - The No. 2 Central Methodist baseball team picked up a pair of wins against Harris-Stowe State and the University of Saint Mary Sunday afternoon at the Rube Foster Classic in Kansas City, Mo. 

The Eagles improve their overall record to 12-2. 

In their first game against Harris-Stowe, Central scored one run in the first inning, three in the second, one in the third and two in the fourth. CMU held a 7-0 lead heading into the top of the seventh before the Hornets tallied their lone run of the game. 

However, CMU's pitching staff remained steady and ultimately closed the game out. 

Sophomore outfielder Bobby Nichols led the Eagles' offense, batting a perfect three-for-three including an RBI triple in the second inning. Tommaso Giarola also drove in two runners highlighted by an RBI-double while Tanner Sears recorded one RBI. 

Senior ace Nick Merkel got the start on the bump, tossing five complete innings and giving up no runs on two hits along with seven strikeouts to earn his third victory of the year. Nino Puckett pitched the sixth inning and Drew Marrufo closed the game out in the seventh, recording three strikeouts. 

Overall, Central's pitching staff gave up only three hits, while the bats finished the game with 10 hits, five of which were for extra bases. 

In the second game of the Classic, the Eagles found themselves trailing Saint Mary 1-0 in the top of third. But Central responded with an explosive seven-run third. CMU scored seven runs on four hits, including two errors by the Spires' defense. 

Jeff Vance drove in two runners on a two-RBI single, and Logan McDonald drove in a runner on a double to left field. Central added one more run in the following inning on a ground out from Vance which scored Cole Luedeking from third base. 

The Eagles' pitching staff had another solid outing, giving up one earned run on five hits. Sebastian Escobar got the start, pitching three innings with three strikeouts. Beau Atkins tossed the middle innings and allowed only one hit and struck out five batters. 

Anthony G. Rodriguez closed the game out in the seventh inning. 

Central will make the short trip to St. Louis to compete in the Clayton Pfeiffer Memorial Tournament hosted by Missouri Baptist University March 4-5. 

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