Olathe, Kan. - The No. 5 Central Methodist baseball program defeated (RV) MidAmerica Nazarene University in the first two games of the series, both by scores of 6-3 Saturday afternoon in Olathe, Kan.
With the pair of wins, the Eagles improve to 18-2 and a perfect 5-0 in the Heart, while MNU falls to 12-11 and 2-3 in conference play.
Central jumped out in front with three runs in the top of the second inning of game one, courtesy of a three-run home run from Devon Garcia to left field on a 2-2 count. The Eagles added an additional run in the next half-inning via a solo home run from senior first basemen Logan Haring.
However, MNU would trim the lead to 4-3 with a run in the third, fourth and sixth innings. Leading by only one entering their final at-bats, Central solidified their 17th win of the season off the bat of senior Mason Schwellenbach, who hit a two-run home run over the left-field fence.
Kenny Otero got the start on the bump in game one, tossing 5.2 innings and giving up three runs on six hits while striking out three batters. Sergio Macias pitched in relief, throwing the final 1.1 innings to earn the save.
Logan McDonald led the CMU bats with three hits including a run scored. The duo of Haring and Schwellenbach each collected two hits and a walk while Garcia drove in three runs.
In game two, MNU got on the scoreboard first with a run in the third and fourth innings, taking a 2-0 lead over Central midway through the game. Then in the top of the fifth, the Eagles singled and capitalized on a walk and a wild pitch from MNU to put runners in scoring position.
Macias followed with a single to left-centerfield to clear the bases and tie the game at 2-2. Both sides remained scoreless for the next 2 1/2 innings and the game would go into extras.
Central only needed an extra half inning to score, as the Eagles knocked in four runs in the eighth. Garcia started the offense with an RBI single back up the middle to score Isaiah Davis. Garcia then stole second base and would score off a wild throw by the pitcher.
Macias and Schwellenbach concluded the inning with back-to-back RBI singles, giving the Eagles a comfortable 6-2 lead. The Pioneers battled back in the final half-inning, starting the bottom of the eighth win a solo home run, followed by a walk and a single.
With the tying run at the place, Dylan Brister was then called upon to close the game out, retiring the final two batters to earn the save and seal Central's fifth straight conference win.
As a team, the Eagles finished the afternoon with nine hits. Max McCay, Schwellenbach, Macias, and Cole each collected two hits, and McCay recorded the only extra-base hit with a double in the top of the eighth. Central also drew eight walks compared to just two for MNU, while Garcia matched his career-high with three stolen bases.
With two additional hits in game two, Haring continues to edge closer to Head Coach Nate Breland's all-time career hits record (241), which has stood for nearly 15 seasons. Haring currently sits second all-time in program history with 228 career hits.
Nick Merkel earned his fifth win of the season as Central's starting pitcher, throwing 7.1 innings and giving up three earned runs, and recording 13 strikeouts. Brister pitched the final 0.2 innings to earn the save.
Central's final two games of the series against MNU have been moved to Fayette, Mo. at Estes Field and will take place Monday, March 22 with the first pitch set for 1:00 p.m.
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