FAYETTE, Mo. - The Central Methodist University baseball team opened its Heart of America Athletic Conference schedule with a doubleheader sweep of William Jewell College Saturday afternoon at Estes Baseball Complex. CMU won the first game 5-3, before a walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh inning gave the Eagles a 4-3 win in game two.
Trailing 1-0 entering the bottom of the fifth inning of game one, CMU had yet to have a base-runner in the game. After a fly-out, sophomore Derrick Pledger (Clarksville, Ark.) singled. Junior Tyler Belt (Macon, Mo.) then tripled to deep left-center, scoring Pledger. CMU's next batter, junior Thomas Brown lined out to left field, but Belt beat the throw to score the Eagles' second run. Junior Matt Henton (St. Joseph, Mo.) singled up the middle, then scored when freshman Bryant Jackson (Lee's Summit, Mo.) doubled to center field. A strikeout ended the inning, but CMU was able to take a 3-1 lead after five. Senior Cory Cowsert (Pacific, Mo.) recorded two more strikeouts and a pop-out in the top of the 6th inning for CMU.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Central Methodist added to its lead with solo homeruns by junior Adam Arnette (Pacific, Mo.) and Pledger. William Jewell answered with a two-run homerun in the top of the seventh inning to cut CMUs lead to 5-3. Cowsert then got a fly-out, before Pledger came in and recorded a line-out and ground-out to end the game and earn the save.
Cowsert gave up just three runs on four hits in six-and-one-third innings of work for CMU in game one. In the top of the third inning, William Jewell loaded the bases, but Cowsert got one of his eight strikeouts to end the inning. William Jewell's first batter tripled in the top of the fifth inning, and came around to score on a single later in the inning, but Cowsert recorded a strikeout and a fly-out to get out of the inning.
In the second game, CMU held a 3-2 lead until the top of the sixth inning, when William Jewell got three singles to score a run and tie the game. The Eagles were unable to score in the bottom of the sixth, despite getting three straight singles. Freshman Jake Cavins (Desloge, Mo.), who gave up three runs on eight hits in a complete game win, got a groundout and a double-play groundout to finish his seventh inning of work. With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Arnette doubled down the right-field line. Junior Dane Frazier (Mattawan, Mich.) then singled to shallow right field on a 1-2 count, which drove in the game-winning run as Arnette scored from first.
William Jewell took a 2-0 lead with one run in each of the first two innings of game two. Central Methodist had a big third inning, though, sending seven batters to the plate. Henton opened the inning with a single to left field, then advanced to second base on a passed ball. Freshman Zach Warrick (Kirkwood, Mo.) bunted his way on base, and Henton advanced to third. Jackson singled down the left-field line to score Henton. CMU's next batter struck out and Warrick was tagged out trying to get to third base. With two outs, Brown doubled to deep left-center, scoring Jackson from first. After a single by Arnette, William Jewell got out of the inning with a ground-out.
CMU finished with 16 hits in the two-game series, while William Jewell had 12. William Jewell left 14 runners stranded in the two games, including 10 in scoring position. Central Methodist left eight runners stranded, including five runners in scoring position.
Jackson and Brown each finished with two RBIs for CMU. Pledger went 3-for-6 at the plate with an RBI and two runs scored. Arnette was 3-for-7 with an RBI and two runs scored as well. Henton finished 3-for-5 with two runs scored.
Central Methodist improved to 3-4 overall, and 2-0 in the HAAC with the sweep. William Jewell dropped to 8-4 and 0-2 in the conference. The Eagles will be back in action with another HAAC doubleheader Tuesday against Avila University. Game one is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. at Estes Baseball Complex.
