Fayette, Mo. - The No. 6 Central Methodist Baseball team secured a four-game series split against No. 15 MidAmerica Nazarene this past weekend at Estes Field.
After the weekend, Central now stands at 27-6 and 13-3 in the Heart of America. MNU is currently 24-9 and 17-3 in conference play.
Game 1: No. 15 MNU 12 - No. 6 CMU 10
The series opener was a high-scoring affair as both teams combined for 22 runs on 31 hits. Jeremy Conforti led the offense, batting four-for-five with five RBI, including a two-run home run in the fourth inning.
Valentin Cerna Jr. recorded a solo home run in the fifth inning and finished the day with two RBI.
Both Bobby Nichols and Zeb Wede recorded doubles while Wede picked up an RBI single in the third inning.
Game 2: No. 6 CMU 8 - No. 15 MNU 3
Both teams exchanged runs in the second and third innings, and the score was deadlocked at 2-2. Central broke the game open in the fourth with three runs on a three-run home run by Nichols to put Central out in front 5-2.
An RBI single in the fifth for the Pioneers cut the lead to two before CMU plated three more in the sixth. Nichols hit his second home run of the game to center field to score two, while Tanner Sears hit a solo shot to left.
Clayton Burke tossed a complete game, giving up three earned runs on five hits with a walk. He also struck out six batters en route to his seventh win of the year.
Nichols was a force at the plate, as the senior centerfielder batted three-for-four with a triple and two home runs. Altogether he drove in five RBI.
Game 3: No. 6 CMU 5 - No. 15 MNU 4
Entering the bottom of the fourth inning tied at 2-2, Central plated three runs on four hits to take a 5-2 lead. Joseph Weatherford singled back up the middle to score Nick Tampa from second, followed by a single from Nick Becker to move Weatherford to second.
A flyout from Nichols advanced Weatherford to third before Becker stole second to put both runners in scoring position.
A double to centerfield from Cerna Jr. in the following at-bat was deep enough to score two, pushing Central's lead to three.
The Eagles would give up back-to-back solo home runs in the top of the sixth, which trimmed their lead to just one. MNU had a runner on third in the final inning, but Foster Seitz was able to force a lineout to left field to end the game.
Seitz threw a complete game and struck out three batters to earn his seventh win of the year.
Cerna Jr. led the offense with two hits in three at-bats, including a pair of RBI. Weatherford matched Cerna Jr. with two RBI as well.
Game 4: No. 15 MNU 10 - No. 6 CMU 9
The finale was another high-scoring affair that saw a combined 19 runs scored on 28 hits. Central held a 9-8 lead after the sixth inning as a two-run home run from Conforti and a sacrifice fly from Dominic VanDoorne plated three.
MNU answered though in the top half of the seventh, as a two-run home run put the Pioneers out in front for good.
Weatherford recorded his first home run of the weekend, which was a three-run blast in the second inning. Nichols picked up three hits in four at-bats and also drew a walk in the final game of the series.
Ray Ochoa, Alexander Billo, Landon Winingham , and Marcus Pritchard all pitched for the Eagles.
Up Next:
Central heads out on the road for a three-week road trip, beginning with a four-game series against Grand View. The Eagles and Vikings will square off beginning Saturday, April 6 at 1:00 p.m. in Des Moines, Iowa.
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