Lewiston, Idaho - Despite scoring the first run of the game, the Central Methodist baseball team fell to Georgia Gwinnett by a score of 9-3 in the Eagles' third game of the Avista NAIA World Series Tuesday night in Lewiston, Idaho.
With the loss, Central moves to the loser's bracket where they will face host school Lewis Clark State College Wednesday, June 2 at 3:00 p.m. (PT) The winner of that game will advance to the National Championship Series Thursday, while the loser will be eliminated.
The Eagles' offense looked poised to continue their run in game three, as they opened the bottom of the first with a run via an RBI-single from Mason Schwellenbach. Georgia Gwinnett, responded with six runs in the top of the third on five hits and a CMU error to take a 6-1 lead.
The Grizzlies added to their lead with a pair of runs in the fourth, but Central answered with two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Senior first basemen Logan Haring started the inning with a double down the right field line. After GGC recorded back-to-back outs and a walk from Logan McDonald to put runners at the corners, Grant Victor singled through the hole at second base to score Haring from third.
Central trimmed the lead to 8-3 in the later innings, but Georgia Gwinnett would get one final insurance run in the ninth on a wild pitch.
Kenny Otero got the start on the bump, tossing four complete innings and recording four strikeouts. Tyler Vicars came in relief for the next 4 1/3 innings, giving up only one earned run on two hits with a strikeout. Isaiah Davis collected the final two outs in the ninth for the Eagles.
Haring led the offense batting three-for-five including a double and two runs scored. Victor batted a perfect three-for-three with an RBI, while Max McCay and Schwellenbach each drove in a run. Sergio Macias and Schwellenbach both finished the evening with two hits.
Deshawn Cole joined Haring with a double while McDonald drew two walks. As a team, Central collected 13 hits compared to the Grizzlies' 11 but left nine runners on base.
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