Canton, Mo. - The Central Methodist Baseball program closed the regular season with a four-game series against the Culver-Stockton College Wildcats this weekend in Canton, Mo.
The Eagles dropped three of four games to the Wildcats, falling in the first three games before winning the series finale.
Game 1: CMU 2 - Culver-Stockton 3
Central held a 2-0 lead over the Wildcats enterting the bottom half of the fourth inning. CS-C would plate three runs in the fourth to take a 3-2 lead, which proved to be the final score.
Joseph Weatherford started the scoring for CMU with an RBI-single through the right side in the second. Robbie Merced recorded an RBI-triple in the third to plate Bobby Nichols.
Sebastian Escobar threw a complete game, giving up just one earned run on five hits with two walks. He also struck out 11 batters.
Game 2: CMU 7 - Culver-Stockton 9
In game two, Central jumped out in front early with a pair of runs in the first and third innings. The Eagles' pitching staff held Culver-Stockton scoreless until the bottom of the fifth.
The Wildcats would score six runs in the inning to take a 6-4 lead. Central responded with a two-RBI single from Nichols in the sixth inning to tie the game at 6-6.
Culver once again responded with three runs in the bottom half of the frame. Despite Central trimming the deficit to 9-7, the Eagles were unable to complete the comeback in the seventh.
Nichols, Jeremy Conforti, and Alan West each picked up two hits including two doubles for Conforti, and a triple for Nichols. West and Nichols each drove in a pair of runs as well.
Marcus Pritchard got the start on the bump, tossing 4.1 innings and allowing four earned runs. Alfred Ulloa and Larry Riddle Jr. also saw action from the bullpen.
Game 3: CMU 0 - Culver-Stockton 1
The Eagles were held scoreless in the third game of the series, as the offense was held to just three hits. Tommaso Giarola picked up two hits in three at bats for CMU.
West was dealt only his second loss of 2023, throwing six complete innings and giving up just one earned run on six hits and four walks. He finished the day with six strikeouts.
Game 4: CMU 6 - Culver-Stockton 1
Leading 2-1 entering the top of the fifth inning, Central plated two runs in each of the next two innings to secure a five-run victory in the finale.
Conforti and West both collected two hits, including a double and a two-RBI triple for Conforti. Tanner Sears also picked up an RBI-single in the fifth inning.
Clayton Burke improved to 8-3 on the year, tossing a complete game while allowing just one earned run on six hits while striking out five.
Up Next:
Despite a tough road weekend, Central still secured the Heart Regular Season Conference Championship with a final conference record of 23-7.
The Eagles will look to the postseason as they will participate in the Heart Conference Tournament beginning Thursday, May 4 in Ozark, Mo.
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