Fayette, Mo. - The Central Methodist Baseball program continues to roll through conference play, as the Eagles completed a four-game series sweep over Benedictine College this weekend at Estes Field.
The Eagles have won eight-straight games, and improve their overall record to 22-10 and 12-2 in conference play. The Ravens fall to 10-19 and 5-8 in the Heart.
Highlighting the weekend was a no-hitter thrown by senior pitcher Alan West in the series finale Sunday
Game 1: CMU 5 - Benedictine 2
Tied at 2-2 entering the bottom of the sixth inning, Central plated three runs beginning with an RBI-single from Joey Fitzgerald Jr. to put CMU out in front. Catcher Logan Doody followed with a double to right field to score Gannon Ruckman, and then Bobby Nichols hit a sacrifice fly to score Kaden Doan from third.
The Eagles' pitching staff held Benedictine to just two runs on six hits in the series opener. Clayton Burke got the start on the bump, throwing five complete innings and recording two strikeouts. Justin Guzman came in relief in the sixth and pitched a scoreless inning en-route to his first win of the year.
Larry Riddle Jr. closed the game out in the seventh to earn the save.
Jeremy Conforti homered to left field in the third, and both Robbie Merced and Nichols put on a double steal in the bottom of the first, including Nichols stealing home.
Game 2: CMU 11 - Benedictine 2
Central's bats picked up the offensive pressure in the second game of the series, scoring 11 runs on 13 hits including four for extra bases.
Fitzgerald Jr. batted three-for-four with an RBI-single while crossing the plate two-times. Dominic VanDoorne homered to left field in the fifth inning to drive in two runners, while West started the scoring with a solo shot in the bottom of the second.
Both Merced and Conforti doubled while Tanner Sears recorded two RBI including a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the third.
Marcus Pritchard threw six innings on the bump, allowing just two earned runs on three hits with a walk. He struck out three batters in the victory, his fourth win of the year.
Joshua Tucker pitched the final inning, holding the Ravens scoreless.
Game 3: CMU 3 - Benedictine 1
West had an outstanding showing on the bump, throwing a no-hitter in the first game Sunday. The senior transfer struck out 10 batters and gave up just one walk. The lone run that came from Benedictine was a sacrifice fly in the top of the fourth inning, with the runner initially reaching on an error by the CMU defense.
It marks just the second no-hitter in the last 10 years for the program. The last no-hitter was by Drew Greiwe against Graceland on April 6, 2013.
In addition, West recorded a double and a triple in two-at bats.
Tanner Sears led the Eagles' offense with a two-run home run to centerfield in the bottom of the first inning. Jeremy Conforti also homered in the game, sending a solo shot over the left field fence in the bottom of the fifth.
Game 4: CMU 9 - Benedictine 7
The Eagles held a 9-3 lead in the top of the seventh, before Benedictine plated four runs to trim the lead to 9-7. Central was able to hang on for the two-run victory and complete the series sweep.
Conforti had a great day at the plate, hitting two two-run home runs. Merced hit a solo home run in the fifth, and Sears, West, and Tommaso Giarola all picked up doubles.
Altogether, Central scored nine runs, on 11 hits and capitlized on two Benedictine errors.
Sebastian Escobar earned the win in his return to the bump, throwing four innings and giving up three earned runs on on four hits with eight strikeouts.
Justin Guzman and Alfred Ulloa pitched the fifth and sixth innings respectively, both throwing shut out frames.
Up Next:
The Eagles begin a two-week road swing, starting with a four-game series against the Evangel Friday, April 7 at 1:00 p.m. in Springfield, Mo.
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