The No. 2 Central Methodist baseball team finished the weekend with a 2-1 record at the Clayton Pfeiffer Memorial Tournament, hosted by Missouri Baptist University in St. Louis. 

The Eagles now stand at 14-3 entering conference play. 

Central opened the tournament with a 7-0 shut out of Missouri Baptist Friday afternoon, using a five-run second inning to put the game out of reach early on. 

Nick Merkel pitched a gem on the mound, tossing a five-hit complete-game shutout. The senior from Spokane, Washington didn't give up a single run and tallied 10 strikeouts. It was the second time he has recorded double-digit Ks this season. 

Senior Grant Victor and sophomore Bobby Nichols led the offense with two hits apiece. Nichols also drew two walks, as did freshman Tanner Sears. Junior Robbie Merced hit his ninth home run of the season in the second inning. 

On Saturday, the Eagles gave up a late lead over Saint Xavier to fall 7-6. Central held a 6-5 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth inning, but the Cougars tied the game at 6-6 on a double. Saint Xavier took the victory after a wild pitch allowed the runner from third to score for the win. 

Senior Jeff Vance picked up two hits and scored two runs, while freshman Victor Plaz recorded an RBI double. Junior Cole Luedeking and senior Grant Victor each recorded RBI singles. 

 Sophomore Sebastian Escobar got the start on the hill, pitching 4.2 innings and giving up only two earned runs along with six strikeouts. Junior Tyler Vicars came in relief for the next two innings, followed by junior Nino Puckett for the final two innings of work. 

CMU concluded the tournament with a 5-2 victory over Missouri Baptist on Saturday. The Eagles used a four-run third inning, highlighted by a grand slam from Merced, his 10th home run of 2022, to take an early lead. Junior Cole Luedeking drove a ball back up the middle in the fifth to score sophomore Gannon Ruckman. 

Senior pitcher Beau Atkins recorded his second win of the year, tossing a complete game. The Riverton, Illinois native gave up only two earned runs on three hits along with seven strikeouts to seal the victory. 

Central begins conference action against Graceland University at home on Saturday. The first pitch is at noon at Estes Field.