Central Methodist swept Park University in a four-game weekend home baseball series Saturday and Sunday at Estes Field in increase its winning streak to seven games.

The Eagles improve their overall record to 32-12 and 22-4 in conference play, while the Pirates fall to 14-24 and 8-20 in the Heart.

In 44 games this season, Central has a team batting average of .335 with 48 home runs and 329 runs scored. The pitching staff holds a team ERA 3.60 overall, and 3.36 through 26 Heart games. The Eagles finish their home campaign 20-4 at Estes Field.

Game 1

Park 0

CMU 16

The opener saw the Eagles score 16 runs on 14 hits. Jeremy Conforti led the way, batting 2-for-3, including a three-run home run in the top of the first inning.

Joseph Weatherford finished the day picking up one hit in four at-bats, highlighted by a bases-clearing double in the fourth. In addition, Bobby Nichols batted 3-for-5 while crossing the plate twice. 

Sebastian Escobar earned his seventh win of the year on the mound. He allowed just two hits and a walk with six strikeouts in six scoreless innings. Alexander Billo retired one batter on strikes while allowing no runs, hits, or walks in one inning of relief to preserve the shutout. 

Game 2

Park 3 

CMU 4

Central had to use seventh-inning magic to earn a tough one-run victory in the second game of the series. Trailing 3-2 entering the bottom of the final frame, CMU reached on a lead-off walk from Merced. The Eagles then knocked in Merced with consecutive hits from Jeremy Conforti, Tanner Sears, and West to load the bases.

With the game tied at 3-3, Giarola singled to center field to score Conforti from third for the walk-off win in game two.

Sears, Conforti, and West each picked up two hits, including the game-tying single from Sears in the seventh.

Marcus Pritchard got the start on the bump, tossing three full innings while giving up two earned runs on six hits while striking out four batters. 

Justin Guzman pitched the next three innings, holding Park scoreless and keeping Central within striking distance. Alfred Ulloa earned his second win of the year, pitching the final frame. He allowed one hit and struck out two batters. 

Game 3

Park 5

CMU 12

The Eagles’ offense broke game three wide open in the sixth inning on Sunday, with eight runs scored on seven hits and an error.

Nichols finished game three with two hits in three at-bats, including a two-RBI single in the second and an RBI single in the sixth. Sears matched Nichols with three RBI, including a two-RBI double in the fifth inning.

West improved to a team-best 9-1 on the year in 10 starts. The senior right-hander allowed four earned runs on 10 hits while delivering 10 strikeouts in six complete innings on the mound.

Joshua Tucker also saw action in the final inning of play, giving up one unearned run on one hit in the seventh.

Game 4 

Park 1

CMU 9

Leading 3-1 after five and a half innings, Central’s bats unloaded in the bottom of the sixth, plating six runs on four hits. Merced hit an RBI double, and West added a two-RBI triple.

Merced picked up two extra-base hits, a double and a triple. Thrasher also singled in the sixth inning to plate two runners.

Clayton Burke picked up his seventh win in 12 starts on the mound. He allowed one earned run on eight hits with six strikeouts. Larry Riddle Jr. retired the side to preserve the 9-1 victory with one inning of relief.

The Eagles head out for their final regular-season road series of the year against Culver-Stockton College. The series opens with the first pitch at 1 p.m. on Friday in Canton. The Heart Tournament opens on Thursday, May 4, in Ozark, Missouri. Tournament matchups have yet to be announced.