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CMU takes first two games in NAIA World Series

Posted 6/1/21

The Central Methodist University baseball team has won the first two games of the NAIA World Series tournament. After receiving a first-round bye, the No. 2 Eagles took down seventh-seeded Southeast …

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CMU takes first two games in NAIA World Series

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The Central Methodist University baseball team has won the first two games of the NAIA World Series tournament. After receiving a first-round bye, the No. 2 Eagles took down seventh-seeded Southeast (Ind.) 11-5 on Saturday night. On Monday, CMU escaped with a 4-3 win over sixth-seeded Faulkner (Ala.) on Monday to advance.

Monday’s victory came behind the arm and bat of senior Mason Schwellenbach. The Eagles jumped out in front quickly with three runs in the top of the first inning. Seniors Deshawn Cole and Kenny Otero led off the inning with both being hit by pitches to put runners on first and second with no outs. Senior Logan Haring moved both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. After a strikeout, Schwellenbach then stepped to the plate and hit a three-run home run to left field to put CMU out in front 3-0.

Central’s pitching would take control over the next three innings, as Schwellenbach retired nine straight batters to preserve CMU’s 3-0 lead. Faulkner would ultimately break through in the bottom of the fourth with three runs on three hits and an error by the CMU defense.

Faulkner looked poised to take its first lead of the evening in the bottom of the sixth. After a single, a walk, and a wild pitch, the Faulkner had runners in scoring position with only one out. However, the next batter grounded out to Cole at second and Central was able to turn a 4-6-3 double play to keep Faulkner from scoring and the game tied at 3-3.

Senior Grant Victor led off the seventh and reached first on a wild throw from the Faulkner third basemen. Fellow senior Max McCay followed with a bunt and reached first on an error from the pitcher. With runners on the corners and no outs, Faulkner was able to turn a 5-3 double play, leaving senior pinch runner Isaiah Davis on second base with two outs.

Cole then stepped to the plate and singled to left field to score Davis and put Central back out in front 4-3. Faulkner continued to battle in the last two innings and in the eighth collected a single off junior relief pitcher Beau Atkins. Attempting to move into scoring position, the Faulkner baserunner looked to steal second in the following at bat, but was picked off by McCay to keep the Eagles out of scoring position. After another walk, Atkins retired the final two batters.

Atkins recorded the first out of the ninth before Faulkner drew its third walk in the last two innings. Senior shortstop Sergio Macias then came on in relief to retire the final two batters, striking out both and securing Central’s 4-3 win.

Schwellenbach pitched a gem on the mound, tossing seven complete innings and giving up only one earned run on four hits with nine strikeouts, good enough to earn his 14th win of the season. Atkins threw 1.1 innings, collecting one K, while Macias earned his sixth save of the season, tossing the final 0.2 innings in the ninth.

Senior Devon Garcia, Haring and Cole were the only other Eagles to collect hits for Central.

Central earned its first World Series win in program history with the 11-5 win over No. 7 Indiana University Southeast Saturday night at Harris Field in Lewiston, Idaho.

 Neither team was able to get on the board during first three innings. The IU  Grenadiers jumped out in front with two runs in the fourth. IU Southeast capitalized on two Eagles' errors to bring two runners in.

Trailing 2-0 entering the bottom of the fourth, Central had perhaps its best offensive performance of the year, scoring eight runs on eight hits including three straight home runs from seniors Kenny Otero, Logan Haring, and Sergio Macias. It marks the first time since 2012 and only the third time in World Series history that a team has recorded back-to-back-to-back home runs.

The Grenadiers responded with a run in the sixth, but CMU answered right back with three of their own in the seventh. Macias collected his second home run of the evening and his 20th of the season in the inning.

IU Southeast gained traction in the final inning, scoring two runs before sophomore Tyler Vicars came on in relief to record the final two outs to secure the win. 

Macias and senior Max McCay led the offense with four hits apiece, including two home runs from Macias. McCay drove in three runs while Macias and senior Kenny Otero each drove in two apiece. Otero, and senior third baseman Grant Victor each recorded two hits on the day.

Senior Mason Schwellenbach picked up a double in the fourth, while sophomore Logan McDonald, and senior Devon Garcia each contributed a hit. 

Junior ace Nick Merkel got the start on the mound, tossing six complete innings. He allowed only one earned run with three strikeouts for the win. Senior Dylan Brister came on in relief and tossed 2.1 innings, matching Merkel with three K’s.

CMU was to face No. 5 Georgia Gwinnett Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. Results were not available as this newspaper went to press Tuesday morning.

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