CANTON, Mo. - Central Methodist earned a split with Culver-Stockton (Mo.) in Heart of America Athletic Conference action Saturday at Nichols Field. The Eagles lost game one 7-0 but picked up a 9-7 win in the second contest as the two teams finished a four-game series.

Culver-Stockton (25-24, 16-10) jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead in the nightcap before Central Methodist (20-24, 12-14) found its offense, scoring nine straight runs. The Wildcats tallied three in the bottom of the seventh before falling by two.

Brock Kartheiser hurled a two-hit shutout as the Wildcats defeated the Eagles in the curtain-raiser. He pitched 5 2/3 innings of no-hit ball before allowing back-to-back hits in the sixth inning.�Kartheiser pitched a perfect seventh inning to improve his record to 6-0 this season. He walked one and struck out five.�

The Wildcats would get all the runs needed in the third inning of game one, plating three runs with the benefit of just one hit. �

Mike Wagner and Neil Hansen each had one hit in the loss.

In the nightcap, Culver-Stockton opened the game with a four-run first inning.

The Eagles plated two runs in the second inning before their offense finally came alive with six runs on five hits in the fifth to grab their first lead at 8-4. Central Methodist would tack on one more in the sixth inning before the Wildcats attempted a comeback. However, a�4-6-3 double play ended the game, the third double play the Wildcats hit into in the game.

Wagner had three hits in the win. Jesse Zellner and Kyle Poynter each had two hits. Poynter drove in four runs, and Hayden McMillon scored twice.

The conference tournament, which begins Thursday, May 1, in Joplin, Mo., bracket will be released Sunday. Central Methodist is the defending tournament champion.