KANSAS CITY, Mo. ---- The number 24 nationally ranked Central Methodist baseball team split the final two games in the Heart of America Athletic Conference series with Avila University to take the series three games to one. CMU fell 5-4 in game one, and rallied for an 11-7 win in game two.
NOTES
• Central Methodist improved to 23-8 (12-4) on the year.
• Avila fell to 19-14 (5-9).
STANDOUT PERFORMERS
• Randy Perez led the Eagles offensively with a 6-for-8 performance at the plate in the doubleheader. He also added three doubles, five RBIs, two runs scored, two stolen bases and a home run.
• Logan Haring added four RBIs with a home run in game two, as Fernando Villegas added a long ball in game one with three RBIs.
• Jared Johnson and Andrew Thomas each added two hits in the second game, as Thomas picked up his first double of the year.
• Tyler Hull improved to 2-0 on the year with his longest relief appearance of the season in game two. He hurled four innings with just one earned run on a walk and four strikeouts.
HOW IT HAPPENED GAME 1
• After a quiet opening two frames, Central Methodist took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning. A single from Villegas brought home Bucher, and a Perez double plated Villegas.
• Central Methodist remained in the lead through the fourth, however Avila took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fifth with four hits.
• Central Methodist was unable to respond in the top of the sixth, as Avila added its final two runs of the game with four hits in the bottom of the sixth to lead 5-2.
• Central Methodist scored two runs in the top of the seventh off a home run from Villegas to cut the lead to one. With one out, the Eagles managed runners on first and third, however Central Methodist was unable to find the tying run as Avila won game three 5-4.
HOW IT HAPPENED GAME 2
• Central Methodist scored in the opening frame on a sacrifice fly from Haring that scored Henfling.
• Avila responded with a two-run home run in the bottom of the inning to lead 2-1 in the series finale.
• Central Methodist added two runs in the top of the third to lead 3-2. A Haring single scored Johnson, and a ground ball from Rodriquez scored Norris.
• Avila responded immediately in the bottom half of the inning with four runs on two hits to lead 6-3 as the offensive battle continued.
• Central Methodist regained the lead in the top of the fifth 7-6. A Perez double scored both Alcala and Johnson, as the long ball from Haring immediately after put the Eagles ahead.
• Avila responded with a single run in the bottom of the fifth to knot the game at seven with two innings to play.
• Central Methodist took the lead for good in the top of the six with four runs on three hits with three errors. Smith and Norris scored on a wild throw, and Perez added the exclamation point with a two-run shot to right as the Eagles took the final game 11-7 to win the series.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• Central Methodist tallied 19 hits on the day with 11 in game two.
• The Central Methodist pitching staff tallied 15 strikeouts in both games with six from Perez in game two.
• The Eagles added eight extra base hits in the doubleheader with the three doubles and two home runs in game two.
UP NEXT
• The Eagles will return to action on Tuesday, April 3, when they travel to Cedar Rapids, Iowa for a Heart doubleheader with Mount Mercy University that will start at 1 p.m.
