The Central Methodist baseball team fell in the first game of the Heart of America Athletic Conference Championship against MidAmerica Nazarene by a final score of 14-8 Monday afternoon. 

The loss brought about a winner-take-all game on Tuesday at noon after The Advertiser went to press.

Central jumped out to an early 5-run lead in the top of the first when sophomore leadoff man Bobby Nichols singled to the left side. Classmate Tommy Giarola followed with a walk that advanced Nichols to second, then both runners advanced when junior Robbie Merced was hit by a pitch. MidAmerica pitching proved to be even more shaky at that point, by walking freshman Tanner Sears and forcing in Central’s first run. With the bases still loaded, junior Cole Luedeking doubled down the right-field line driving in two more runs to make the score 3-0. After a fly-out and ground out, sophomore Khalil Thrasher approached the plate and promptly delivered a two-out double to drive in Luedeking and Sears to give the Eagles a 5-0 lead.

MidAmerica was able to chip away at the lead by scoring two runs of their own in the bottom of the first. 

In the top of the second, Giarola powered a solo shot to left to tack on another CMU run and give the Eagles a 6-2 lead.

The top of the third brought about another insurance run for Central when senior Jeff Vance singled to right and was replaced on the base path by courtesy runner sophomore Josh Green. Green was then advanced to second on a bunt single by senior Grant Victor. Both advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Thrasher, putting runners at second and third. Junior Logan McDonald’s ground out to short allowed Green to score, giving Central a 7-2 lead.

MidAmerica came roaring back in the bottom of the third, adding four runs on a two-run homer and a two-run double to make the score 7-6 with CMU holding onto a slim lead.

Central was unable to bolster its lead in the top of the fourth, and MidAmerica took advantage of that by adding two more runs and grabbing an 8-7 lead in the bottom of the frame.

Central came back to tie the score 8-8 in the top of the fifth when Luedeking was able to manufacture a run by walking before being bunted over to second. Luedeking then stole third and was driven in by a double to left-center by Thrasher.

MidAmerica would retake the lead in the bottom of the fifth, scoring one run to make it a 9-8 ballgame.

MidAmerica would add five more runs in the bottom of the sixth while Central would remain scoreless the remainder of the game, ending the contest at 14-8 in favor of the Pioneers.

Junior Nino Puckett took the hill for the Eagles, and lasted only three innings, striking out three and walking three while giving up six runs on five hits. Puckett yielded to Ryan Jeffers for the bottom of the fourth. The junior gave up three runs on four hits in his 1.1 innings of work before being relieved by senior Micah Blankenship in the fifth. Blankenship took the loss, giving up five runs on five hits.

Thrasher paced the Eagle offense with a two-for-three day including a triple, a double, and three RBIs.

Grant Victor went two-for-four on the day while Tommy Giarola powered a home run. Cole Luedeking doubled and drove in two runs.

Bobby Nichols, Robbie Merced, Tanner Sears, and Jeff Vance each contributed a single. 

Tuesday’s game was slated to start at 12 p.m.