Atchison, Kan. - The No. 6 Central Methodist Baseball team completed a four-game series sweep of Benedictine College this past weekend in Atchison, Kansas.
With the sweep, the Eagles are now winners of 11 straight games, improving their overall record to 38-7 and 24-4 in the Heart of America. Bendictine falls to 14-34 and 8-24 in conference play.
Game 1: No. 6 CMU 5 - Benedictine 2
The first game of the weekend saw Central score five runs on 10 hits, including a double from Zeb Wede. David Soriano finished the game batting three-for-three with a pair of RBI singles.
Tanner Sears, Carlos Negron, and Wede tallied two hits apiece including RBI singles for both Sears and Wede.
Bobby Nichols drove in a run on a fielder's choice in the sixth while also picking up a stolen base.
Clayton Burke got the start on the bump, tossing 5.1 innings and giving up two earned runs on seven hits while striking out six. Larry Riddle Jr. came in relief and earned the save after throwing 1.2 innings.
Game 2: No. 6 CMU 4 - Benedictine 1
Sebastian Escobar had a stellar showing on the mound, as the senior earned his seventh win of the year. He threw a complete game and allowed just one earned run on seven hits in the 4-1 win.
Central scored a pair of runs on sac flys from both Sears and Joseph Weatherford. Wede also picked up his second double of the day in the fourth to score Negron. In addition, Valentin Cerna Jr. singled to centerfield to score David Soriano in the seventh.
The highlight of the game came on the basepaths, as senior outfielder Bobby Nichols stole second in first inning. The stolen base gave the native of Detroit, Michigan 112 for his career. In nearly three full seasons with the Eagles, Nichols owns the program record for stolen bases, a record that had not been broken in 33 years.
Game 3: No. 6 CMU 12 - Bendictine 2
Central continued to dominate heading into Sunday, as Central scored 12 runs on 11 hits including five for extra bases. Nichols led the offense, picking up three hits in four at-bats which included two doubles. He also drew a walk, drove in two runners and crossed the plate twice himself.
Cerna Jr. tallied a pair of hits while Soriano launched a two-run home run in the seventh. Altogether Nichols, Cerna Jr., Sears, Wede, Weatherford and Soriano all recorded two RBI.
Foster Seitz threw the first five innings of game three, allowing just one earned run. He struck out seven batters en route to his eighth win of 2024. Both Alexander Billo and Landon Winingham pitched an inning to close the game out.
Game 4: No. 6 CMU 11 - Benedictine 2
The Eagles closed the series out with a nine run victory in the finale. Negron, Weatherford, and Dominic VanDoorne picked up two hits apiece.
Central also proved to be a challenge on the basepaths for the Ravens, as they finished the day with seven stolen bases, including a double steal in the fourth inning that saw Trey Vorwald steal home.
Ray Ochoa got the start on the bump, pitching one inning before Marcus Pritchard threw the next five to earn the win. Pritchard also struck out four batters.
Alfred Ulloa threw the final inning and retired the side in order.
Up Next:
Central returns home to host Culver-Stockton College for a four-game series beginning Thursday, April 25 beginning at 1:00 p.m. at Estes Field.
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