ATCHISON, Kansas – The Heart of American Athletic Conference Southern Division leaders brought out all their offensive firepower Saturday afternoon as No. 10-ranked Central Methodist University and Benedictine College combined for 19 extra-base hits and split their first two games of a four-game weekend series. The Eagles surrendered an 8-0 lead in the opener, as the Ravens came back for a 9-8 victory. But CMU retaliated in Game 2 for a 12-10 victory to split the twinbill.

Central Methodist produced 16 of the extra-base hits on the day, including two homers, a triple and 13 doubles, while Benedictine finished with three home runs.

At the end of the day, the two were tied with (RV) MidAmerica Nazarene atop the Southern Division. Central Methodist (25-6) owns a 10-2 league mark, while Benedictine (24-15) sits at 13-5 and MidAmerica Nazarene (24-10) owns a 14-6 league record.

GAME 1 RECAP
The Eagles pounded out eight doubles, a triple and a home run in Game 1, while the Ravens connected with three round-trippers of their own. CMU led the slugfest of hitting, 14-10.

Four different Central Methodist players produced multiple-hit games at the dish. Quinn Conley (SR/Thousand Oaks, Calif.) (pictured on right) was a perfect 4-for-4, with three doubles, two runs scored and a run driven in. Logan Haring (FR/DeKalb, Ill.) (pictured on left) also had a perfect game, finishing 3-for-3, with a double, two RBIs, a walk and two runs scored. Dustyn Macaluso (SR/Sacramento, Calif.) homered and added a double, finishing 2-for-4, with two runs scored and two more driven in. Brandon Alcala (JR/Alameda, Calif.) doubled in a 2-for-3 effort. DeAndre Smith (JR/Fresno, Calif.) connected with a triple and drove in a run for CMU.

Logan Finley (2-for-3, HR, 3RBI, run), Austin Watamanuik (2-for-3, run) and Reid Fritzke (2-for-3, RBI, run) all had multiple hits for Benedictine.

C.J. Martin started the game on the hill for the Eagles and absorbed the loss to fall to 5-2 on the year. In 5.2 innings he gave up six earned runs (9 total) on 10 hits, with eight strikeouts and a walk. Kyle Fulton (JR/Monroe City, Mo.) worked 1/3-inning, strikeout out the only batter he faced.

Ben Costello (2-0) was the winning pitcher in relief for Benedictine. In three innings he gave up no runs on three hits, while strikeout two and walking one.

The Eagles had control early, scoring a run in the second, three more in the third and four in the top of the fourth to take an 8-0 lead. But the Ravens pushed three runs across in the bottom of the fourth, fifth and sixth frames to secure the come-from behind win.

GAME 2 RECAP
The frustrated Eagles came out with power again in Game 2, posting six doubles and a home run as they outhit the Ravens 12-9 and secured the split with a 12-10 win.

Five different CMU players produced at least two hits in the game. Alcala pounded out a home run, finishing the day 2-for-4, with a pair of RBIs and two runs scored. Fernando Villegas (JR/Hutchinson, Minn.) went 2-for-4, while pushing in two runs and tagging a double, Conley went 2-for-3, with three runs batted in, a double, a walk and a pair of runs scored. Johnson went 2-for-4, with three runs scored, two stolen bases and a double, while Macaluso finished 2-for-5, with a double, two runs driven in and a pair of runs scored.

Finley and Reid Fritzke each posted a pair of hits for the Ravens.

Dariel Checo (SO/New York, NY) (5-1) grabbed the win on the hill for Central Methodist. The Eagle worked six frames, allowing three earned runs (4 total) on six hits. He fanned 11 batters, while walking only three. Josh Thomas (SR/Parker, Colo.) and Kyle Fulton also worked on the mound for CMU before Ryan Franklin (SR/O'Fallon, Mo.) came in for his first save of the season. In 2/3-inning he did not give up a hit.

Michael Kruse (6-2) was the losing hurler for the Ravens. In one inning he gave up eight runs on seven hits with a pair of walks.

The Eagles once again started the game fast, building an 8-0 lead after the first inning and a half. Benedictine scored twice in the bottom of the second, and then CMU scored a run in the third and three more in the top of the fifth to stretch the lead to 12-2. But Benedictine made the game interesting with two runs in the fifth and six in the seventh.

WHAT'S UP NEXT FOR THE EAGLES?
Central Methodist will close out its four-game series with Benedictine on Sunday afternoon with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. The Eagles will then travel to Peru, Neb. On Tuesday to face Peru State College in a 1 p.m. doubleheader.

CMU Baseball Contact: John Krueger
Phone: 936-332-9332 | jkrueger@centralmethodist.edu
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Website: www.CMUEagles.com