Joplin, Mo. - The No. 2 Central Methodist baseball team posted a perfect 4-0 record at the Joplin Invitational this past weekend in Joplin, Mo. With the perfect weekend, Central improves its overall record to 10-2.
Game 1 vs. Viterbo
After scoring a pair of runs in each of the fourth and sixth innings, the Eagles used a six run seventh inning to complete a 10-0 shut out of Viterbo in the opening game Saturday.
Robbie Merced led the offense batting two-of-three including a double. He also drove in four runners. Josh Green, Tanner Sears, Cole Luedeking, Khalil Thrasher and Victor Plaz all recorded one RBI.
Sebastian Escobar earned his third win of the season, tossing six complete innings and giving up only four hits and three walks. In addition, he tallied eight strikeouts. Ryan Jeffers came in relief in the final inning of play, recording three strikeouts through the final frame.
Game 2 vs. Hastings
Tied at 4-4 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, the Eagles offense score three runs, highlighted by a two-run home run from Sears. A double from Luedeking followed by an error by the Broncos first basemen scored the third run of the inning for Central.
Hastings was unable to answer in the top of the seventh, as Central earned a 7-4 victory.
Sears and Luedeking were the only two Eagles to recorded multi-hit games, as each picked up two apiece. Merced recorded a triple while Josh Green and Luedeking each tallied doubles.
Brandon Tyler got the start on the bump, followed by Tyler Vicars who pitched 4.1 innings to earn the victory. Nino Puckett finished the game through the final 1.2 innings to earn his first save of the year.
Game 3 vs. Lyon
Central began Sunday morning with an 11-5 win over Lyon in game one of the double header. The Eagles trailed 4-0 into the bottom of the fourth before responding with four runs in the bottom half of the inning. Lyon responded with a run in the top of the fifth before the CMU answered right back with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Central padded its lead with four runs in the sixth to earn an 11-5 victory.
Merced once again led the offense, batting three-of-four with two home runs and five RBI. Luedeking matched Merced with three hits including a double, and Grant Victor recorded a three-run home run.
Senior ace Nick Merkel pushed his overall record to 2-1, tossing a complete game and giving up four earned runs on eight hits including 10 strikeouts.
Game 4 vs. Lyon
CMU concluded the weekend with a 7-2 victory over the Scots. Victor Plaz batted a perfect three-of-three followed by Merced who tallied two hits including a triple and a home run.
Beau Atkins pitched six complete innings, giving up only one earned run on eight hits with 10 strikeouts.
Puckett, Jeffers, and Tanner Sears all saw action on the mound in the final inning for CMU.
The Eagles will next compete in the Rube Foster Classic Feb. 26-27 in Kansas City, Mo.
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