Fayette, Mo. - The No. 25 Central Methodist baseball team put together a dominant offensive showing and a lights-out pitching performance Thursday, picking up wins over Clarke and Concordia (Neb.) as part of the Show-Me-Show Thursday event at Estes Field.

The Eagles rolled past Clarke, 16-6, in the opener before edging Concordia, 1-0, in a nine-inning pitchers' duel in the nightcap.

Game 1: No. 25 Central Methodist 16 - Clarke 6:

After surrendering four runs in the top of the first inning, Central wasted little time responding.

A three-run homer and an RBI double gave Clarke an early 4-0 lead. The Eagles answered in the bottom of the first when Simon "JJ" Yoakum IV singled home Jordan Vazquez to get CMU on the board.

The momentum swung decisively in the second. Zeb Wede crushed a two-run homer to center, and Yoakum followed with an RBI single to tie the game. CMU capitalized on defensive miscues later in the frame to take a 6-4 advantage.

The Eagles broke the game open with a five-run fourth inning. Justin Smith delivered a two-run double, Wede added an RBI double, and CMU took full advantage of Clarke's six errors on the day.

Wede paced the offensive outburst, finishing five-for-five with two home runs, a double, and four RBIs. Vazquez went three-for-five with a double, triple, and four runs scored, while Yoakum added three hits and three RBI. As a team, the Eagles tallied 16 runs on 16 hits.

On the mound, Chase Schnieders earned the win, tossing five innings while allowing six runs with four strikeouts. Alexander Gryckiewicz was dominant in relief, surrendering just one hit across the final three innings while striking out two.

CMU plated additional runs in the seventh and eighth, highlighted by Wede's second homer of the game, to seal the 16-6 victory.

Game 2: No. 25 Central Methodist 1 - Concordia 0:

Game two featured a stark contrast, as pitching and defense took center stage.

Gavin Whitehurst delivered a stellar performance on the mound, tossing six shutout innings while allowing just two hits and striking out 10. He worked around three walks and kept Concordia off balance throughout his 87-pitch outing.

The Eagles scored the game's only run in the second inning. Justin Smith reached and later came home on a Concordia throwing error following a fielder's choice by Sean Mitchell, giving CMU a 1-0 lead.

That would be all the offense Central needed.

Jeremy Yanow was electric in relief, earning his first save of the season with three no-hit innings. The right-hander struck out four and allowed just one walk, preserving the shutout as CMU pitchers combined for 14 strikeouts.

Whitehurst was credited with the win, while Concordia's Alex Johnson was saddled with the tough-luck loss despite allowing just one unearned run over five innings.

Up Next:

Central will next take on No. 22 Bellevue (Neb.), for a four-game series beginning Friday, Feb. 27 in Bellevue, Nebraska. 

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