PERU, Neb. ---- The number 24 nationally ranked Central Methodist baseball team defeated Peru State College 17-9 on the road in game one of the Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader. The second game was cancelled due to inclement weather.

NOTES
• Central Methodist improved to 29-8 (17-4) on the year.
• Peru State fell to 22-13 (13-10).

STANDOUT PERFORMERS
• Jared Johnson led the way for the Eagles offensively as he picked up two home runs with seven RBIs and three runs scored.
• Logan Haring finished with a team-high three hits with two RBIs.
• DeAndre Smith, Aneudy DeLaCruz and Brandon Alcala each added two hits in the game. DeLaCruz and Alcala also scored three runs each.
• Dariel Checo improved to 8-1 on the year, as Randy Perez came in with a strong relief appearance. Perez gave up just two runs in three innings with five strikeouts.

HOW IT HAPPENED
• Peru State added a single run in the first and second to take an early 2-0 lead over Central Methodist.
• Central Methodist responded in the top of the third with two runs to tie the game. A Villegas single scored Johnson as Perez came around to score on a wild pitch.
• Peru State regained the lead in the bottom of the third with two runs as the Bobcats led 4-2.
• Central Methodist tallied five runs in the top of the fourth to take back the lead 7-4. Johnson picked up his fourth long ball of the year on a grand slam, and an Alcala single plated Thomas.
• Peru State continued the offensive battle with three runs in the home half of the fourth to tie the game at seven.
• Central Methodist took the lead for good in the top of the fifth with six runs on five hits. A Thomas single plated Smith as a Salgueiro single scored Bucher. DeLaCruz came home on a passed ball and a Haring single brought home both Alcala and Salgueiro. Perez was the final Eagle to score in the inning on a wild throw. The Eagles led 13-9 after five innings of play as the Bobcats plated two in the bottom of the fifth.
• Central Methodist added three runs in the top of the sixth on Johnson's second home run of the game that scored three. A single from Smith plated Haring in the top of the seventh to give the Eagles the 17-9 victory over the Bobcats.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• Central Methodist tallied 15 hits in the game compared to 10 from Peru State.
• The Central Methodist pitching staff tallied 11 strikeouts with six from Checo in the opening four frames.

• The Eagles added three extra base hits with a stolen base.

UP NEXT 
• The Eagles will return to action on Tuesday, April 17, when they host William Woods University for a doubleheader.