Marshall, Mo. - The No. 4 Central Methodist baseball program split its final two games against Missouri Valley College, winning game three 9-2, followed by a narrow 6-5 loss in the finale Saturday afternoon in Marshall, Mo.
After taking three of four this past weekend, Central improves its overall record 26-4 and 13-2 in conference action. The Vikings fall to 11-21 and 4-12 in the Heart.
It was another record-setting day for senior first basemen Logan Haring, whose second hit in the first game broke the program record for career hits, previously held by head coach Nate Breland (241), a mark which has stood since 2006. Haring now owns CMU baseball career records' in at-bats (689), doubles (53), home runs (46), RBI (216), and hits (245).
The Vikings jumped on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the second inning to take a 2-0 lead. It wasn't until the top of the fifth that Central responded with five runs highlighted by two two-run home runs from Adrian Martinez and Devon Garcia.
CMU added four more runs in the seventh to earn a 9-2 victory. Deshawn Cole, Haring, Grant Victor, and Garcia each picked up two hits, while Garcia led the offense with three RBI.
Mason Schwellenbach got the start on the bump, tossing six complete innings. He also gave up just two runs on five hits with two walks with seven strikeouts. Tyler Vicars pitched the final inning, retiring the side in order with one strikeout.
The Eagles dropped the final game of the series by a score of 6-5. After Central scored a run in the second and three in the third, Missouri Valley tied the game at 4-4 in the next half-inning. CMU regained the lead in the fourth after Sergio Macias was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to bring in a run.
However, MVC would go on to score the game-tying run in the fifth and the game-winning run in the sixth to secure a narrow 6-5 victory.
Macias finished the day with three RBI including a two-run home run. Haring batted a perfect three-for-three with a double and a walk.
Dylan Brister started the finale and Elvin Ramos, Nino Puckett, and Beau Atkins also made appearances.
Central will next head to William Penn University to play the Statesmen in a four-game series beginning on Saturday, April 10 in Oskaloosa, Iowa.
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