Posted: Apr 23, 2011
Culver-Stockton took a 3-0 lead after scoring two runs in the top of the third and adding another in the top of the fourth. In the bottom of the fourth, sophomore Steve Bazner (Waterford, Mich.) led off with a single. After advancing to second, Bazner came around to score on a single by senior Tyler Belt (Macon, Mo.) to make it 3-1. CMU cut the lead to 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning. Junior Matt Gessner (Lykens, Pa.) hit a lead-off double off the left-field wall. Senior Thomas Brown (Columbia, Mo.) followed with a single. Gessner was called out at home, but Brown advanced to second on the throw. Sophomore Mike Allen (Mattawan, Mich.) hit an RBI single to center field to score Brown and make it 3-2.
Culver-Stockton made it a 4-2 game with a run in the top of the sixth inning. In the bottom of the inning, senior Adam Arnette (Pacific, Mo.) and junior Dustin Ray (Boonville, Mo.) hit back-to-back singles. After a pitching change for Culver-Stockton, Belt hit a two-RBI double off the top of the wall in left-center field to tie the game. The score remained 4-4 until the bottom of the eighth inning. Ray hit a lead-off single and advanced to second on a passed ball. Belt reached on a fielder's choice up the middle, and Ray slid safely back into second to give CMU runners on first and second with no outs. Junior Brennen Wood (West Plains, Mo.) laid down a sacrifice bunt, and reached on a throwing error to give the Eagles bases loaded with no outs. Senior Dane Frazier (Mattawan, Mich.) reached on a fielder's choice, to give CMU bases loaded with one out. Gessner followed with the game-winning sacrifice fly to deep left field to score Belt from third and give CMU the 5-4 win. Junior AJ Pfeifer (Godfrey, Ill.) earned the win for Central Methodist, allowing two hits and a walk, while striking out two in 2 1/3 innings of relief. Sophomore Ryan Revoir (Olathe, Kan.) pitched the first 5 2/3 innings for the Eagles, allowing four runs on nine hits and three walks, while recording two strikeouts.
In game two, the Eagles were out-hit 8-3 in the game, and were hurt by four errors in the game. Culver-Stockton scored a run in the third and another in the sixth to take a 2-0 lead. CMU managed just one base runner through the first five innings. In the bottom of the sixth, Gessner and Brown hit back-to-back two-out singles. Junior Raymond Fuentes Jr. (Isabela, Puerto Rico) hit a ball between the legs of the Culver-Stockton second baseman, which allowed Gessner to score and Brown to reach third. Allen drew a walk, to give CMU the bases loaded, but a strikeout ended the inning. Culver-Stockton sealed the win by getting all three Eagle batters out in the bottom of the seventh. Sophomore Travis Tompson (West Plains, Mo.) took the loss for CMU, allowing two runs on eight hits, while striking out six in six innings of work. Freshman Alex Hunter (Kansas City, Mo.) pitched a scoreless seventh inning for the Eagles, recording one strikeout.
Central Methodist moved to 22-20 on the season and 16-10 in the HAAC with the split. Culver-Stockton clinched the HAAC regular-season championship with the win in game two, improving to 33-13 overall and 22-4 in the HAAC. The two teams are scheduled to finish their four-game series with another doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday at Estes Baseball Field.
