OZARK, Mo. – Central Methodist University survived their first elimination game of the tournament on Saturday evening, in a game that extended past 1 am on Sunday morning. | TOURNAMENT CENTRAL

The Eagles were forced into the consolation bracket after dropping a game to Clarke University on Saturday afternoon, falling 13-9.

GAME ONE (vs Clarke, L 13-9)

Central had the lead heading into the seventh frame, but Clarke's bats caught fire with a big five-run inning. The Pride ignited again in the top of the ninth with eight runs.

Riley Richarz (SR/Milwaukee, Wis.) led the Eagles in game one, going 3-for-4 at the plate while recording one run and one RBI. Julio Canales (JR/Canovanas, Puerto Rico) and Damian Rodriguez (SR/Laredo, Tex.) also notched multiple hits in the contest.

Peyton Long (JR/Des Moines, Iowa) got the start but did not factor into the decision. He manned the mound for 6.2 innings, collecting five strikeouts and scatting seven hits. Tyler Robbins (JR/Bay City, Mich.) took the loss on the rubber after tossing one inning. Alex Moore (JR/Santee, Calif.), Edward Nunez-Beltre (SR/Azua, Dominican Republic), and Cody Malan (JR/Springfield, Mo.) also made appearances on the mound.

GAME TWO (vs Benedictine, W 5-4)

Both offenses remained stagnant thanks to a pitchers duel through the first three innings of play. Central got on the board first in the fourth after a sacrifice fly from Max McCay (JR/Carlisle, Iowa) plated one.

The Ravens responded with a run in the fifth to knot the score, but a triple to deep right-center from Logan Haring (JR/DeKalb, Ill.) in the bottom of the inning plated two and pushed the team ahead.

Benedictine struck again to cut the lead in the seventh after launching a shot over the left field wall, but Central had an answer. Z Westley (JR/Midland, Mich.) was hit by a pitch to get on base in the bottom of the eight, quickly advancing to second on a stolen base. Rodriguez brought him home with a double to left before being replaced by a pinch-running Luke Knoble (SR/Auburn, Calif.). Knoble capitalized on a defensive miscue by Benedictine's pitcher, to score the run that would save the game.

The Ravens attempted to make a late rally in the ninth, forming a comeback by scoring two runs with two outs. Alex Moore took the mound with the potential tying run on second but was able to retire batter at the plate and strand the runner to close out the win.

Kyle Fulton (SR/Monroe City, Mo.) got the start and the win on the bump after tossing seven innings. He struck out nine batters while scattering six hits and surrendering two runs. Cody Malan also made an appearance, punching out four batters through 1.2 innings, but did not factor into the decision.

UP NEXT

Central will face Mount Mercy on Sunday afternoon for the second time of the tournament. First pitch of the high stakes elimination game is set for 4:30 pm.