#MustangsWin! CBC Sweeps Ecclesia in Final Non-Conference Tune up Before AMC Play Begins!

Erik Holth, CBC Sports Information Director

            Springdale, Ark. – Playing on the road in their final tune up before American Midwest Conference play, Central Baptist College baseball was at Shiloh Christian School today for a doubleheader against the Ecclesia Royals. CBC (15-6) swept EC (7-11), pounding out 20 runs and 25 hits in 11-6 and 9-7 wins.

            Ruben Hernandez made history in the first game, becoming the first player in program history to walk 100-or-more times in his career. Jay French held the previous record.

GAME ONE – CBC 11, ECCLESIA 6

            The Mustangs jumped on the Royals quickly, plating two in the first on a triple by Cade McBride and a groundout by Jacori Hicks. EC would take a 3-2 lead in the second and would hold that lead until the fifth when CBC pushed six runs across to take an 8-3 lead thanks to a single by Cade McBride, a two-run single by Jacori Hicks, a single by Rolando Rodriguez and a two-run single by Austin Teal. Ecclesia pushed three across in the sixth to cut into the CBC lead, but the Mustangs push three more runs across in the seventh thanks to a single by Teal, a steal of home by Brennan Duhe and a single by Cade McBride. Josh Albat was the starter and allowed five hits and three runs with a pair of strikeouts in one-and-a-third innings. Jackson Pope got the win in relief, throwing four-and-two-thirds and allowing three runs on five hits with five Ks. Austin LeJeune pitched a perfect seventh with one K.

GAME TWO – CBC 9, ECCLESIA 7 (EIGHT INNINGS)

            The Mustangs scored five in the first in game two courtesy of a leadoff home run by Teal, a three-run home run by Hernandez and an infield single by Ryan Dauphinee. CBC stretched the lead to 7-0 in the fourth on an RBI single by Luke McBride and a passed ball that scored McBride later in the inning. Ecclesia would score four in the sixth and three in the seven to tie the game and send it into extra innings. In the extra frame, Dauphinee blasted a two-run shot to give CBC the lead and ultimately the win. Gram Middleton started and went six innings, allowing seven hits and four runs (one earned) with eight strikeouts. Julio Escobar relieved Middleton and didn't retire any of the three batters he faced. Cade McBride threw the final two innings and allowed just one hit for his first career win.

UP NEXT

            Tuesday's game against Champion Christian has been canceled, so CBC's next game will be on Friday afternoon in Fulton, Mo., for the AMC Opener against William Woods. First pitch is scheduled for noon.