Atchison, Kan. - The No. 12 Central Methodist baseball program used their high-powered offense to complete the series sweep over Benedictine College by scores of 14-2 and 10-3 Sunday afternoon in Atchison, Kan.
The Eagles conclude the regular season with an overall record of 38-12 and a 23-9 mark in conference action. Benedictine sees their season come to an end with a final mark of 20-29 and 12-19 in the Heart.
Central started game one with 12 unanswered runs, including three runs in the first, third, and fifth innings. The Ravens plated their lone two runs of the game in the sixth via a two-RBI double. CMU maintained their double-digit lead and added two additional insurance runs in the seventh, making the final score 14-2 in favor of the Eagles.
Sophomore Bobby Nichols had a big showing at the plate, batting four-for-six with four singles, three RBI and two runs scored. He also swiped three bases. Junior shortstop Robbie Merced picked up one hit in game one, a three-run home run in the first inning.
Grant Victor collected three hits in five at-bats, while Tommaso Giarola and Khalil Thrasher eached recorded two-run home runs. Tanner Sears also batted .500 including an RBI double in the fourth inning.
Sebastian Escobar pitched six complete innings, and gave up two earned runs on five hits. He matched his season-high with 11 strikeouts en-route to his eighth win of the year.
Felix Pena closed the game out in the seventh, retiring three-of-four batters faced and collecting one strikeout.
Central's offense continued to roll in game two, jumping out to a 5-1 lead after two complete innings of work. The Eagles tallied two more runs in the fourth and three in the fifth to take a 10-1 lead. Benedictine trimmed CMU's lead to 10-3 with two runs in the sixth, but were unable to come any closer, as CMU would go on to complete the series sweep.
Merced had a monster day on offense, recording back-to-back home runs in the second and fourth innings. He finished game two with five RBI including two home runs and a sacrifice fly in the first inning. Victor added a solo home run to left center in the fifth, and both Nichols and Jayton Cromer picked up doubles.
Ryan Jeffers earned his second win of the year, tossing five complete inning and allowing just one earned run on two hits and three walks. He also struck out seven batters. Micah Blankenship pitched the sixth inning before Drew Marrufo closed the game out in the seventh.
Central has clinched a berth into the 2022 Heart of America Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament this upcoming week in Springfield, Mo. The Eagles will find out their seed once the remaining Monday games around the conference are completed.
The bracket will be released by the conference office Monday, May 2 at www.heartofamericaconference.com.
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