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Central baseball drops finale 10-3

Posted 5/25/22

With the season on the line, the second-seeded Central Methodist Eagles could not find the offensive firepower needed to defeat the No. 4 Concordia (Nebraska) Bulldogs, falling 10-3 last Tuesday in …

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Central baseball drops finale 10-3

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With the season on the line, the second-seeded Central Methodist Eagles could not find the offensive firepower needed to defeat the No. 4 Concordia (Nebraska) Bulldogs, falling 10-3 last Tuesday in postseason play.

Earning only one extra-base hit on a double by junior Cole Luedeking, CMU notched only eight more hits on the day.

The two teams were scoreless through 3.5 innings when Luedeking doubled with one out. Senior catcher Jeff Vance advanced Luedeking with a single over short. Coach Nate Breland elected to use a courtesy runner, sophomore Josh Green for Vance before Green and Luedeking both advanced on a wild pitch to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead.

Concordia came right back in the top of the fifth when shortstop Ty Nekoliczak singled via a comebacker to Central pitcher Beau Atkins. Centerfielder Teyt Johnson sacrificed Nekoliczak to second, giving Concordia a runner at second with one out. Trying to work himself out of the inning, the senior hurler induced second baseman Jayden Adams to ground out to the CMU shortstop, but Nekoliczak advanced to third on the play.

Needing only one out to retire the side, Atkins dealt to left fielder Joey Grabinski who promptly doubled to left, scoring Nekoliczak. The next batter, first baseman Jesse Garcia, singled up the middle scoring Grabanski, before Atkins could get third sacker Jaidan Quinn to fly out to left. That ended the inning with Concordia leading Central 2-1.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Eagles fought back to tie the game at 2-2, when sophomore centerfielder Bobby Nichols drew a walk to lead off the inning. Green then pinch hit for sophomore second baseman Tommy Giarola and singled to center giving Central runners on first and second with no one out. Not being satisfied with that situation, Nichols and Green executed a double steal to put runners at second and third before junior shortstop Robbie Merced struck out looking.

With one out, freshman first baseman Tanner Sears launched a fly ball to center, scoring Nichols on the sacrifice and advancing Green to third with two outs. Luedeking then ended the inning by striking out.

The score remained knotted at two during the sixth and seventh innings. 

Concordia was able to break the game wide open in the top of the eighth with eight runs on seven hits.

Atkins retired two Bulldog batters but gave up four runs on two singles, a sacrifice fly, two home runs and a wild pitch before giving way to reliever Sebastian Escobar. The sophomore did not fare any better, immediately giving up a double down the left field line. Breland opted to go to the bullpen again, this time for the big righty Nino Puckett. The junior promptly hit the first batter he faced to put runners at first and second with two outs and Quinn strolling to the plate. Quinn tripled to right center, driving in two more runs.

The two out rally continued for Concordia, as right fielder Keaton Candor homered to left, scoring two more runs.

Mercifully the inning ended following two more Bulldogs being walked before Nekoliczak grounded into a fielder’s choice. CMU could not respond in the bottom of the eighth, but held Concordia scoreless in the top of the ninth when senior pitcher Drew Marrufo came on in relief of Puckett. 

The Eagles entered their half of the ninth behind 10-2, needing a miracle to score eight runs to at least send the game into extra innings.

Central got one out as McDonald flew out to right to start the inning, but Nichols singled to right and advanced to second on a stolen base. Green then struck out looking giving CMU two outs. 

Heart Player-of-the-Year Robbie Merced then came to bat and singled to drive in Nichols and cut the lead to seven. 

Trying to keep the inning, game, and season alive, Sears then singled to left moving Merced to third. After sophomore Terry Tollivar, Jr. ran for Sears, Luedeking grounded out to second to close the book on the Eagle season. 

Beau Atkins suffered what could be termed his worst outing of the season, giving up 11 hits and six earned runs. He did earn six strikeouts on the game while going 7.2 innings.

Sebastian Escobar, gave up one hit and one earned run and was not able to record an out before giving way to Puckett, who fared no better than either of his predecessors. Puckett lasted 0.1 innings, giving up two hits and three earned runs while facing six batters. Marrufo finished the game for the Eagles, walking one and striking out one.

Bobby Nichols led the Eagle offense going three-for-four, with a walk and scored two runs.

Cole Luedeking went two-for-five with a double. Green, Merced, Sears, and Vance each contributed a single apiece.

Central left 11 men on base in the loss. 

CMU finished the year at 42-15 overall and 23-9 within the Heart Conference. The Eagles finished the year with a .327 batting average, and hit 57 home runs.

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