The No. 7 Central Methodist baseball program split its opening two games against Missouri Valley College Saturday afternoon at Estes Field. 

The Eagles won game one, 17-0 before falling in the second game, 5-1.

CMU won the final two games of the series against Missouri Valley College Sunday afternoon, winning game one 8-7 followed by a 15-10 victory in game two. 

Winning three of the four games in the weekend series, Central improved its overall record to 27-6 and 13-3 in conference play. The Vikings fall to 11-20 and 4-12 in the Heart. 

Saturday

Game 1

CMU-17

Missouri Valley-0

The Eagles’ offense exploded for 17 runs on 13 hits in the first game of the day. Central had contributions from up and down the lineup, as eight different players picked up at least one hit. 

Junior Robbie Merced was intentionally walked in his first two at-bats before hitting a three-run home run to left field in the fifth inning. Senior Grant Victor went two-for-three with two triples, while freshman Tanner Sears went three-for-five with two RBI. Freshman Victor Plaz also drove in two runners on a single to right field in the sixth inning. 

Senior ace Nick Merkel earned his seventh win of the year, pitching a complete-game shutout with 10 strikeouts and only three hits allowed.

Saturday

Game 2

Missouri Valley-5

CMU-1

Missouri Valley answered back in game two with a 5-1 victory. After three scoreless innings to start the game, the Vikings broke the deadlock with a run in the fourth inning. Central responded in the next half-inning on a ground out from junior Cole Luedeking which scored sophomore Bobby Nichols to tie the game at one.

The Vikings scored two runs in the sixth and recorded back-to-back home runs in the seventh to secure the game-two win. 

Senior catcher Jeff Vance picked up the only hit of the game for CMU, a single to right field in the seventh inning.

Sophomore Sebastian Escobar tossed five complete innings, giving up two earned runs on six hits and a walk. He also struck out six batters. Junior Tyler Vicars came in relief for the final two innings of work.

Sunday

Game 1 

CMU-8

Missouri Valley-7

CMU waited until the bottom of the seventh inning to put the first game away Sunday afternoon, and it turned out to be a memorable win for the program. 

CMU’s game-one victory marked the 300th career win for Head Coach Nate Breland. Breland has averaged nearly 34 wins per season in each of his first full nine seasons at the helm. He has led the Eagles to two Heart regular-season championships and two conference tournament titles, including five appearances in the NAIA National Tournament (see full story on page 7). 

Tied at 7-7 in the bottom of the seventh of game one, sophomore pinch hitter Khalil Thrasher drew a walk with two outs. Thrasher was followed by junior Logan McDonald who hit a triple to deep right field to bring sophomore pinch-runner Josh Green all the way home from first for the game-winning run. 

Freshman Tanner Sears and junior Cole Luedeking led the Eagle bats with two hits including a triple and a home run each. Sophomore Tommaso Giarola and junior Robbie Merced recorded solo home runs and sophomore  Terry Tolliver Jr. and McDonald each picked up sacrifice flies. Merced has now tied the single-season home run record (20), set by both Logan Haring and Sergio Macias in 2021.

Senior Beau Atkins got the start on the hill, tossing five complete innings and giving up two earned runs with three strikeouts. Sophomore Nino Puckett picked up the victory, pitching the final two innings and earning his second win of 2022.

Sunday

Game 2

CMU-15

Missouri Valley-10

 The nightcap turned out to be a wild game to finish the doubleheader. With both teams tied at 6-6 entering the bottom of the fifth inning, CMU scored nine runs on four hits and an error to take a commanding 15-6 lead. The Vikings responded with three runs in the sixth and one in the seventh, but could not close the gapc any further, as CMU went on to earn the 15-10 victory. 

The trio of Thrasher, McDonald, and Luedeking finished game four with three hits apiece and two RBI’s. Luedeking recorded two doubles while senior catcher Jeff Vance drove in two base runners. 

Overall, Central scored 15 runs on 15 hits and capitalized on four Vikings’ miscues. 

Junior lefty Ryan Jeffers started the series finale, throwing four innings with three strikeouts. Junior Tyler Vicars closed the game, pitching the final three frames of work, matching Jeffers with three strikeouts. 

The Eagles head out on the road for a four-game series against Mount Mercy beginning Saturday, April 9 at 1 p.m. in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.