MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Central Methodist University baseball team saw its record-breaking season come to a close on Wednesday afternoon with a 6-3 loss to Hope International (Calif.) in the 2019 NAIA National Championship Opening Round.
Julio Canales (JR/Canovanas, Puerto Rico) and Jose Mieses (JR/Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) closed the season on a high note at the plate, both going 2-for-3 on the day and each scoring one run.
Adrian Martinez (SO/Toa Alta, Puerto Rico) got Central on the board after he plated one run in the opening frame on a double to center. In the fifth inning, a double to deep right from Riley Richarz (SR/Milwaukee, Wis.) scored two runs to give the Eagles a 3-0 lead.
Hope International tied the game with one run in the sixth and two in the seventh, eventually taking the lead after a big three-run inning to close the eighth.
Kyle Fulton (SR/Monroe City, Mo.) got the start at the mound but did not factor into the final decision after making his second appearance in the tournament. He retired four batters, scattered eight hits, and allowed just one run through six innings. Sergio Macias (JR/Laredo, Tex.) entered for the final two innings and suffered the loss.
The Eagles finish the season with an overall record of 35-15 and wrap up the 2019 season being nationally ranked in twelve categories. They sit in the Top 15 in Opp Batting Average (6th, .226), Fielding (9th, .969), Earned Run Average (14th, 3.680), and Total Batters Struck Out (14th, 451).
Coach Nate Breland has led Central to four consecutive Opening Round appearances, compiling a total of 162 wins in that over four seasons. He loses nine seniors to graduation but is projected to return 19 Eagles for 2020.
