CMU BASEBALL VS. MISSOURI VALLEY PHOTO GALLERY
FAYETTE, Mo. – The No. 5-ranked Central Methodist University baseball team appeared to be on cruise control Thursday afternoon when the Eagles opened its four-game series with Missouri Valley College with a 12-0 victory in the opener. Then, despite struggling somewhat in Game 2, CMU held a 4-2 lead heading into the sixth inning. But the Vikings were able to overcome the Eagles and then hold on for a 6-5 win to split the Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader here at Estes Field.

Despite the split, Central Methodist (37-13) still holds a one-game lead over Benedictine College (30-19) in the Southern Division. However, both teams currently have nine losses. The Eagles are 21-9, while the Ravens are 19-9. MidAmerica Nazarene (29-15) is three games behind CMU with a 17-11 record.

The Eagles currently own the second-best record in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. No. 9-ranked Clarke University (41-9) currently leads the Northern Division with a 25-5 league mark.

Missouri Valley College is now 17-32 on the year, 7-23 in league play.

Chris Danielson (SR/Saugus, Calif.) (6-1) picked up the Game 1 shutout for CMU, throwing a four-hitter, while fanning eight and walking only two. Dustyn Macaluso (SR/Sacramento, Calif.) led the offensive charge, finishing the day 5-for-9, with a double, seven RBIs and three runs scored. Jared Johnson (JR/DeKalb, Ill.) went 5-for-7, with two runs driven in, five runs scored and a stolen base.

GAME 1 RECAP
Central Methodist started slow in the opener, but then turned on the afterburners, scoring four runs in the third inning, two more in the fourth and three runs in the fifth and sixth frames to blow out to a 12-0 victory.

In addition to Danielson's performance on the hill, Johnson went 4-for-5 at the plate from his lead-off spot. He drove in two runs and scored three other. Macaluso had a 3-for-5 game, with a double, five RBIs and two runs scored. Andrew Thomas (JR/Parker, Colo.) was a perfect 2-for-2, with a walk and a run scored, and Riley Richarz (JR/Milwaukee, Wisc.) doubled in his only at-bat, scoring a run.

Other CMU players producing singles in the game included Quinn Conley (SR/Thousand Oaks, Calif.) (1-for-4, RBI), Fernando Villegas (JR/Hutchinson, Minn.) (1-for-3, RBI, BB), DeAndre Smith (JR/Fresno, Calif.) (1-for-3, run) and Grant Dix (JR/Perryville, Mo.) (1-for-1, run).

Jeremy Shull led the Vikings with a 1-for-2 effort offensively. Shaquille Lacroes (1-8) took the loss on the mound. He gave up six runs on five hits, while walking six and striking out three in 3.2 innings.

GAME 2 RECAP
The second game of the twinbill was a different story, as Missouri Valley College took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth, before the Eagles tied the game in the bottom of the frame and then took a 4-2 lead in the fifth.

But a four-run sixth inning by the Vikings was enough as they held off a two-out rally in the bottom of the seventh. After two straight outs to start the frame, Johnson was hit by a pitch. Macaluso hit a single to deep right-center and Johnson, who was running on the play, scored all the way from first to trim the deficit to 6-5. Conley doubled to left-center to push Macaluso to third. But Beckner flied out to right field to end the rally.

Temesh Lourens (1-3) fought his way to the victory on the hill for MVC. He allowed five runs on five hits, with eight strikeouts and two walks. Joe Lewis (SO/Coon Rapids, Minn.) (1-2) took the loss for CMU in relief. He allowed two runs on no hits, with a strikeout and a walk.

Macaluso led the Central Methodist offense in the game, with a 2-for-4 effort, with a pair of runs batted in and another scored. Logan Haring (FR/DeKalb, Ill.) went 1-for-2, with a solo home run, a walk, a RBI and a pair of runs scored. Conley doubled and drew a walk in the game.

WHAT'S UP NEXT FOR THE EAGLES?
Central Methodist will wrap up its regular season play on Friday, when the Eagles host Missouri Valley to finish the four-game series. It will be Senior Day for CMU, with Jakob Junker (SR/Warrenton, Mo.), Danielson, Ryan Franklin (SR/O'Fallon, Mo.), Josh Thomas (SR/Parker, Colo.), Conley, Zach Beckner (SR/Versailles, Kent.), C.J. Martin and Macaluso being honored immediately following the first game.

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