Fayette, Mo. - The No. 25 Central Methodist Baseball program capped the Valentine Invite with a thrilling 8-7 extra-inning victory over Madonna University on Sunday afternoon at Estes Field.
In a game that featured multiple lead changes and late drama, the Eagles rallied from a three-run deficit in the eighth inning before walking it off to close the weekend on a high note.
Central improves to 3-4 in the early season while the Crusaders fall to 5-3, and were handed their first loss of the weekend.
Madonna struck first and did so in emphatic fashion, as they connected on a three-run home run to right field, giving the Crusaders an early 3-0 advantage. After the rocky opening frame, Central starter Chase Schnieders settled in, limiting Madonna to just two hits over the next three innings to keep the Eagles within striking distance.
Central Methodist answered in the bottom of the third with an aggressive, opportunistic rally. Ryan Malzahn and Gavin Whitehurst helped set the table before Dariel Rios laced a two-run single to right to cut the deficit to one. Zeb Wede followed with an RBI single to even the score at 3-3, and moments later, the Eagles executed a double steal that saw Rios swipe home, giving CMU a 4-3 lead.
The Crusaders chipped away to regain control. An unearned run in the sixth tied the game at 4-4, and Madonna capitalized on defensive miscues in the seventh to move back in front. MU connected on a two-run homer to left center, stretching the lead to 7-4 and putting the Eagles behind.
Central, however, had one more surge left. In the bottom of the eighth, Jordan Vazquez scored on a wild pitch to trim the deficit to two. With two runners on, Rios delivered again, lining a two-run single to right and advancing to second on the throw as Malzahn and Whitehurst crossed the plate to secure an 8-7 win. The clutch knock capped a four-RBI afternoon for Rios, who finished three-for-four at the plate.
Jeremy Yanow earned the win in relief, striking out three over 1.2 innings while allowing just one earned run. Alexander Gryckiewicz worked a clean inning to keep the game within reach late.
Central will remain at home to host the Show-Me-Showdown, beginning with a doubleheader against Clarke University on Friday, Feb. 20, at 12:00 p.m. at Estes Field.
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