Ozark, Mo. - The Central Methodist baseball program fell in the first game of the Heart of America Athletic Conference Championship against MidAmerica Nazarene by a final score of 14-8 Monday afternoon in Ozark, Mo. 

The Eagles and Pioneers will play a winner-take-all game Tuesday, May 10 at 12:00 p.m. 

Central jumped out in front early with five runs in the first inning of play, highlighted by a two-RBI double from Cole Luedeking and a two-RBI triple from Khalil Thrasher. 

The Pioneers plated two runs in the bottom of the frame to trim the lead to 5-2. Central answered right back with a solo home run from Tommaso Giarola and an RBI ground out from Logan McDonald to score Josh Green. 

MNU would go on to score six unanswered runs through the next two innings to take an 8-7 lead. Central would tie the game in the top of fifth inning on an RBI-double to left center from Khalil Thrasher. 

However, the MNU bats proved to be too much, as the Pioneers plated a run in the fifth and five in the sixth to secure a 14-8 victory. 

Thrasher led the Central offense, picking up two hits, both being for extra bases, and three RBI. Grant Victor joined Thrasher with two hits in four at-bats while Luedeking recorded two RBI. 

Nino Puckett got the start, tossing three complete innings, giving up four earned runs and striking out three batters. Ryan Jeffers came in relief for 1.1 innings, while Micah Blankenship finished the game, tossing the final 3.2 innings of play. 

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