Baseball Takes Series From Ecclesia

Erik Holth, CBC Sports Information Director

            Conway, Ark. – Looking for a series sweep Central Baptist College baseball was back on DeJanis Memorial Field at DeSalvo Memorial Stadium today for the final two games of their four game series with Ecclesia. CBC (10-11) split on the second day, dropping game one before taking the final game from EC (7-14).

GAME THREE – ECCLESIA 6, CBC 4

            Ecclesia jumped on CBC early in the first game of the day, scoring a run in the second and three in the third to lead 4-0 after two and a half. A Luke McBride RBI groundout in the bottom of the third made it 4-1 after three and EC stretched the deficit back to four in the top of the fourth. Austin Teal would drive in his first run of the day with an RBI single in the fourth to cut it to 5-2 before the Royals tacked on their final run in the top of the fifth. Gabe Walker would get a sacrifice fly to make it 6-3 in the fifth and A.J. Serrano hit a sac fly in the sixth to make it 6-4. Reliever Jackson Pope retired Ecclesia in order in the seventh and setup drama in the bottom half. McBride opened the inning with a walk and Nick Aide followed with a single to put two on with no one out. Steven Stewart would successfully bunt both runners into scoring position before Walker was intentionally walked to load the bases, but a pair of pinch hitters couldn't cash in and the Royals took the game.

GAME TWO – CBC 10, ECCLESIA 7

            Ecclesia jumped on CBC quickly again, scoring two in the first to lead 2-0 after one. CBC responded to tie the game in the second courtesy of an RBI single from Serrano and a fielder's choice off the bat of Nick Aide, but Ecclesia retook the lead in the third and added to the lead in the top of the fourth. Trailing 4-2 in the bottom of the fourth, Serrano cut the deficit to 4-3 with a sac fly. CBC would take the lead for good with a five run fifth. Nick Aide would steal home to tie the game and Jaxon Kirkhuff put CBC ahead 5-4 with an RBI double. Serrano would cap the scoring in the inning with a three-run homer, his second of the season, to make it 8-4. Ecclesia made it 8-5 in the sixth, but CBC was able to tack on two insurance runs in the bottom half, thanks to an RBI single from Stewart and a sac fly by Walker to make it 10-5. Ecclesia would make it 10-7 in the seventh before Ben Slate came in and got the final batter of the game to line back to himself to earn the save. Serrano was 2-2 with five RBIs and a home run. Mason Sellers started and didn't factor in the decision, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits in four innings with two walks and four strikeouts. Kirkhuff earned the win in relief, allowing two hits and three runs in two-and-two-thirds innings with seven walks and four Ks.

UP NEXT

            CBC is back at DeSalvo Memorial Stadium on Tuesday afternoon for a midweek contest against the Pioneers of Crowley's Ridge College. First pitch is scheduled for either noon or 1 p.m., but be sure to check out cbcmustangs.com for the finalized time.