Central Methodist ace pitcher Nick Merkel broke the university’s career wins record during a four-game sweep at Benedictine College over the weekend. Merkel, a senior, now has 27 wins on the mound.

The Eagles won the first two games on Saturday 5-1 and 11-8, and completed the weekend sweep on Sunday 14-2 and 10-3.

The four-game series marked the end of the regular season. The 12th-ranked Eagles are now 38-12 overall and 23-9 in the conference.

Saturday

Game 1

CMU-5

Benedictine-1

Merkel set the new record in the first game of the series on Saturday when he pitched a complete game, giving up only one earned run on three hits. Merkel also notched nine strikeouts in the record-breaking win.

The previous record holder was former CMU standout and current Central assistant coach, Mason Schwellenbach.  

After two scoreless innings, Central pulled ahead in the top of the third by putting two runs on the board. The Eagles added three more in the top of the fifth before the Ravens were able to cross the plate in the bottom of the inning making the score 5-1. 

Neither team was able to score the remainder of the game, making the final 5-1 in favor of the Eagles.

Three Eagles, sophomore Tommy Giarola, freshman Tanner Sears, and senior Grant Victor, each laid down two hits. Victors hit a double and Giarola added a home run.

Sophomore Bobby Nichols also connected for a home run.

Junior Cole Luedeking notched a double as did senior Jeff Vance.

Junior Robbie Merced and classmate Logan McDonald each recorded singles to round out the Eagle offense.

Saturday

Game 2

CMU-11

Benedictine-8

Senior Beau Atkins took the mound in the second game on Saturday. He earned the win as the CMU offense exploeded for 11 runs on seven hits.

Central jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the top of the first before the Ravens could even approach the plate. Benedictine cut the lead in half with three runs in the bottom of the second. 

Central tacked on an insurance run in the top of the fifth making the score 7-3.

In the top of the sixth, Central plated two more runs before the Ravens plated two of their own to cut the CMU lead to 9-8. Central added two more in the top of the seventh frame to finish on top, 11-8.

Atkins went 4.2 innings, giving up six runs on eight hits. The senior earned his eighth win, striking out six before giving way to junior Nino Puckett, who gave up two runs on five hits in 2.1 innings of work.

At the plate, Nichols and Victor each went 2-for-4 and each had a double and an RBI.

Logan McDonald added a triple and scored two runs runs while sophomore Khalil Thrasher added two RBI with a single. Jeff Vance added a single and an RBI.

Sunday

Game 1

CMU-14

Benedictine-2

The Central bats lit up the scoreboard in the first game pm Sunday. The Eagles scored runs in every inning but the second to  easily dispatch the Ravens 14-2.

Sophomore Sebastian Escobar toed the rubber for the Eagles and pitched six innings. He allowed only two runs on five hits and struck out 11. Escobar gave way to senior lefty Felix Pena who pitched a nearly flawless inning, giving up one hit and striking out one.

Giarola, Merced, and Thrasher each drove hits over the wall with Giarola going two-for-three with two RBI.  Merced was one-for-four with a three-run homer while Thrasher went two-for-three with three RBI.

Bobby Nichols went four-for-six on the day with three RBI and stole three bases. Grant Victor added three hits and scored twice. Tanner Sears was two-for-four with a double. Cole Luedeking, senior Terry Tolliver, Logan McDonald, and sophomore Jayton Cromer each collected one hit apiece.

Sunday

Game 2

CMU-10

Benedictine-3

Robbie Merced added his 23^rd and 24^th home runs on Sunday driving in five runs for the Eagles. That turned out to be more than enough to defeat the Ravens, but Central did not stop there. CMU and Benedictine each scored a run in the first, giving the Ravens a glimmer of hope that was not to be. Central came back in the top of the second to score four more runs, then added two in the fourth and three in the fifth to make the score 10-1. Benedictine inched back with two runs in the bottom of the seventh to make the final 10-3.

A trio of Eagle pitchers held the Raven batters to just four hits and three runs. Junior Ryan Jeffers got the start, going five innings and giving up only two hits with seven strikeouts. Jeffers gave way to senior Micah Blankenship in the sixth. Blankenship threw one inning, giving up two runs on two hits before Drew Marrufo came on in the seventh. The senior issued two walks before finishing the game.

In addition to Merced’s two home runs, Grant Victor sent one over the fence. Thrasher added a triple, while Nichols and Cromer each contributed doubles. Giarola and Luedeking each added singles.

CMU now sets its sights toward the Heart Conference tournament which begins on Thursday. At press time, matchups had yet to be announced.