#MustangsWin! CBC Forces Winner-Takes-All Game For AMC Championship!

Erik Holth, CBC Sports Information Director

            O'Fallon, Mo. – Looking to keep their season alive in the semifinals of the American Midwest Conference tournament today, Central Baptist College baseball took on the Eagles of Williams Baptist University. CBC (38-14) eliminated WBU (31-19) 11-3 to move into the championship series against Missouri Baptist (38-10-1) where they stunned the Spartans, coming back twice to win 11-7 to force a winner-take-all final tomorrow.

GAME ONE – CBC 11, WBU 3

            Ruben Hernandez opened the scoring in game one for the Mustangs, driving in a run on an RBI single to make it 1-0 in the first. WBU would take their only lead of the game by scoring two in the third to put the Mustangs down 2-1 after three. The Mustangs blew the game open in the fourth when Ayden Qualls gave CBC the lead with a two-run single and Cade McBride added on with a two-run double later in the inning. In the sixth, a sac fly by Cade McBride made it 6-2 before another RBI single by Hernandez increased the lead to 7-2. In the seventh inning, CBC wrapped up their scoring, plating four on an error, a Luke McBride single, a bases loaded walk to Hernandez and a sac fly by Austin Teal. WBU would get one in the eighth but couldn't get any closer. Brennan Duhe got the win in relief, throwing seven innings and allowing two runs on eight hits with a walk and four Ks.

GAME TWO – CBC 11, MBU 7

            Missouri Baptist jumped ahead with three in the second and led 3-0 after two and CBC couldn't crack the scoreboard until the sixth. In the sixth, a wild pitch chased home the first run of the contest for the Mustangs before Teal tied the game with a two-run single. MBU would retake the lead in the bottom half and it stayed 5-3 until the eighth. In the top of the eighth, a double by Jacori Hicks tied the game at five and Chett McDaniel gave CBC the lead with a single up the middle to make it 6-5. Hicks and McDaniel combined to extend the lead in the ninth as Hicks started the scoring with single and McDaniel followed with a grand slam, his third home run of the season, to make it 11-5. Missouri Baptist would put the tying run in the on deck circle in the ninth, but wouldn't get any closer, helping CBC advance to the title game for the second time in program history. Cade McBride started and went five innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits with a strikeout. Jackson Pope got the win in relief, throwing two innings and allowing just one hit and one walk. Jackson Lindsey loaded the bases in the eighth but got out of it unscathed and Austin LeJeune allowed two runs on four hits in the ninth and shut the door to preserve the win.

UP NEXT

            The Mustangs and the Spartans will meet again tomorrow at noon for the AMC Tournament championship at CarShield Field.