Ozark, Mo. - The Central Methodist Baseball program split two games this weekend to close their Heart Tournament run in Ozark, Mo.
Central bounced back with a convincing 19-2 win over William Penn Saturday, before falling to MidAmerica Nazarene University in an elimination game, 9-8, Sunday afternoon.
Against the Statesmen, the Eagles plated 19 runs on 18 hits, including seven hits for extra bases. Central's two big innings came in the second and fourth, as they scored seven and eight runs respectively.
The offensive production primarily came off the bats of Bobby Nichols, Robbie Merced, Jeremy Conforti and Joey Fitzgerald Jr.
Nichols batted two-for-five with two runs scored, a walk, and three RBI. Merced matched Nichols with two hits including a two-RBI double and a two-RBI triple.
Conforti finished the afternoon just a home run short of the cycle, picking up a single, a double, and a triple while also driving in three runners. Fitzgerald Jr. batted a perfect three-for-three with two walks and four RBI.
Sebastian Escobar had a masterful showing on the bump, tossing a complete game and giving up just one earned run on eight hits with two walks. He also struck out six batters to earn his eighth win of 2023.
Central found themselves leading big against the No. 5 seeded Pioneers in another elimination game Sunday afternoon. The Eagles held leads of 6-0, 7-1, and 8-2 in the latter part of the game.
MNU's offense exploded for five runs in the seventh to trim the lead to just one, followed by a two-run eighth inning to pull out in front 9-8. Central was unable to answer as the Pioneers pulled off the comeback victory.
Fitzgerald Jr. led the Eagle bats with two hits in four trips, driving in three runners. Nichols, Merced, Conforti, Tommaso Giarola, and Joseph Weatherford all drove in runners as well.
Marcus Pritchard got the start on the mound for Central, tossing six complete innings and recording two strikeouts. Justin Guzman, Alfred Ulloa, Alexander Billo, and Clayton Burke also saw action on the bump.
The Eagles will now look towards nationals, as they will host an Opening Round next week at Estes Field beginning Monday, May 15. Central will learn its opponents during the NAIA Baseball selection show, set to premiere Thursday, May 11 at 4:00 p.m. (CST) on the NAIA YouTube Channel.
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