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CMU baseball takes Heart crown

Posted 5/18/21

The No. 1 Central Methodist baseball program swept the regular season and conference tournament titles with a thrilling 6-5 victory over No. 3 seeded MidAmerica Nazarene in the championship series …

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CMU baseball takes Heart crown

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The No. 1 Central Methodist baseball program swept the regular season and conference tournament titles with a thrilling 6-5 victory over No. 3 seeded MidAmerica Nazarene in the championship series Tuesday afternoon in Ozark, Missouri. 

Central claims its second tournament championship since 2016 and its third overall title in the last six seasons. The Pioneers forced a winner-take-all game on Tuesday, May 11, after a 10-5 victory over the Eagles Monday afternoon.

In the series finale, MNU jumped out in front first with a run in the second and two runs in the third to take a 3-0 lead. CMU began chipping away at the three-run deficit with a pair of runs in the fourth. Sophomore Logan McDonald and senior Grant Victor started the inning with back-to-back singles. Senior Max McCay then dropped  a sacrifice bunt to advance both runners 90 feet.

Following a strikeout, a wild pitch by the MNU pitcher went to the backstop, giving McDonald enough time to dash home for the first run of the day. Senior Deshawn Cole then sent a ball back up the middle to the pitcher's mound. The pitcher was unable to field it cleanly, leaving 

all runners safe and scoring Victor.

The Eagles then took the lead with a pair of runs in the fifth. With two outs, McDonald and Victor drew back-to-back walks before senior Adrian Martinez put a ball in play which was misplayed at third to load the bases.  Senior Devon Garcia would single to shallow centerfield to score McDonald and Victor, giving CMU a 4-3 lead.

MNU continued to battle, tying the game at 4-4 in the sixth. Both teams exchanged runs in the seventh, making for an exciting finish in the final two innings. After a scoreless eighth, CMU's Max McCay provided the game winning hit, driving a ball back up the middle to score McDonald from second.

Holding a 6-5 lead, Central battled through a single, a hit-by-pitch, and a defensive interference call which put the Pioneers just a hit away to win the game. With two outs, Heart Pitcher of the Year Nick Merkel struck out the final MNU batter to clinch the tourney title for CMU.

McDonald and senior Kenny Otero each picked up three hits, while Victor and Grant collected two. Overall, the CMU offense finished the evening with 12 hits and five walks.

Senior Dylan Brister got the start on the mound, tossing 2.1 innings and giving up only one earned run on four hits. Sophomore Tyler Vicars pitched the next 2.2 innings before giving way to junior Beau Atkins who added two strikeouts. Atkins would earn his first win of the season, while Merkel earned the save.

For their efforts in the tournament, Victor, McCay, McDonald, Mason Schwellenbach, and Atkins were named to the all-tournament team.

CMU would open tournament play in O’Fallon, MO against McPherson, KS  on Tuesday after The Advertiser went to press.

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