CMU VS. MIDAMERICA NAZARENE PHOTO GALLERY
OZARK, Mo. – For the second straight game in the Heart of America Athletic Conference Postseason Baseball Tournament, the No. 6-seed MidAmerica Nazarene University Pioneers were able to pull off an upset. Saturday night the No. 2-seed Central Methodist University Eagles were the victims, as the Pioneers turned nine hits into 13 runs in a 13-3 victory in the third round of the tournament.

The loss sends the Eagles (40-14) to the losers' bracket of the tournament and matches CMU against No. 8-seed Culver-Stockton College (28-28) in an elimination game on Sunday at 1 p.m. at U.S. Baseball Park. The survivor will have to play again at 7 p.m. in another elimination game against the survivor of Sunday's game earlier in the day between No. 3 Benedictine College (34-21) and No. 5 Grand View University (29-22).

MNU (32-18) and No. 1-seed Clarke University (44-10) are now the only two unbeaten teams alive in the tournament.

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SUNDAY, MAY 7 (elimination game)
#2 Central Methodist vs. #8 Culver-Stockton College, 1 p.m.
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A six-run second inning by the Pioneers on two hits, four walks and a pair of fielder's choice defensive plays turned the momentum of the contest and gave MidAmerica Christian a 7-0 lead and the Eagles had a deficit they couldn't overcome. The Pioneers finished the game with nine hits, while CMU posted seven, to go along with four errors on defense.

C.J. Martin (6-4) made the start on the hill for Central Methodist and absorbed the loss. In 1.1 innings he gave up six earned runs (7 total) on three hits, with one strikeout and four walks. Kyle Fulton (JR/Monroe City, Mo.) came out of the bullpen pitched the next 3.2 innings allowing an unearned run on two hits, with six strikeouts and a walk.

Other pitchers who worked on the hill during the game included Joe Lewis (SO/Coon Rapids, Minn.) (1.0 inning, 2 runs, 2 hits), Josh Thomas (SR/Parker, Colo.) (1.0 inning, 3 runs, 1hit), Jeff Castillo (SO/Bronx, NY) (1.0 inning, 0 runs, 0 hits) and Ryan Franklin (SR/O'Fallon, Mo.) (1.0 inning, 0 runs, 0 hits).

Emilio Gonzalez started the game on the mound for MidAmerica Nazarene and improved his record to 6-2 by picking up the victory. In 6.2 innings he allowed three runs on five hits, with five strikeouts and four walks.

Jared Johnson (JR/DeKalb, Ill.) and Fernando Villegas (JR/Hutchinson, Minn.) each produced a pair of hits to lead the Central Methodist offense. Johnson doubled and singled, drew a walk and drove in a run, while Villegas also connected with a double.

Brandon Alcala (JR/Alameda, Calif.) (1-for-3, run, BB), DeAndre Smith (JR/Fresno, Calif.) (1-for-4, RBI, run) and Dustyn Macaluso (SR/Sacramento, Calif.) (1-for-5, RBI) each added singles for the Eagles.

Four Pioneers produced multiple-hit games, led by Logan Tills' 3-for-4 effort, with a pair of walks, an RBI and two runs scored. Christian Quinones singled and doubled in four at-bats, scoring a pair of runs, walked and drove in two more runs.

Trailing 7-0, Central Methodist got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third inning when Smith reached second base on an error, advanced to third on a fielder's choice and plated on Macaluso's single to left field.

Both teams scored a run in the fifth and sixth innings, and then the Pioneers scored an insurance run in the seventh and three more in the eight to seal the win.

HEART OF AMERICA ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
2017 POSTSEASON BASEBALL TOURNAMENT
at US Baseball Park, Ozark, Mo.
PLAY-IN ROUND
Thursday, May 4
Culver-Stockton College 14, Evangel University 13
Avila University 11, Graceland University 7
SECOND ROUND
Friday, May 5
GM 1: #1 Clarke University 7, #8 Culver-Stockton College 3
GM 2: #5 Grand View University 13, #4 Peru State College 6
GM 3: #2 Central Methodist University 6, #7 Avila University 0
GM 4: #6 MidAmerica Nazarene University 10, #3 Benedictine College 3
THIRD ROUND
Saturday, May 6
GM 5: #8 Culver-Stockton College 10, #4 Peru State College 6 (PSC eliminated)
GM 6: #3 Benedictine College 12, #7 Avila University 9 (Avila eliminated)
GM 7: #1 Clarke University 6, #5 Grand View University 2
GM 8: #6 MidAmerica Nazarene University 13, #2 Central Methodist University 3
SEMIFINALS
Sunday, May 7
GM 9: #3 Benedictine College (34-21) vs. #5 Grand View University (29-22), 10 a.m. (elimination game)
GM 10: #2 Central Methodist University (40-14) vs. #8 Culver-Stockton College (28-28), 1 p.m. (elimination game)
GM 11: #1 Clarke University (44-10) vs. #6 MidAmerica Nazarene University (32-18), 4 p.m.
GM 12: Winner of Game 10 vs. Winner of Game 9, 7 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 1
Monday, May 8
GM 13: Loser of Game 11 vs. Winner of Game12, 1 p.m.
GM 14: Winner of Game 11 vs. Winner of Game 13, 4 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 2 (if necessary)
Tuesday, May 9
GM 15: If necessary, 1 p.m.

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