Central Methodist University baseball closed out the regular season in strong fashion, taking three of four games from Benedictine College over the weekend at Estes Field.

The Eagles improved to 27-20 overall and 16-12 in Heart of America Athletic Conference play. Benedictine finished the year at 23-24 overall and 13-15 in conference action.

Central has qualified for the Heart of America Athletic Conference Tournament as the No. 7 seed. The Eagles will open postseason play against No. 2 seed Mount Mercy at 8:30 p.m. tomorrow (Thursday) in Ozark, Mo.

Game 1

CMU 3

Benedictine 2

Central Methodist opened the series Friday with a 3-2 comeback victory. The Eagles trailed 2-0 before rallying with two runs in the fifth inning to tie the game. Ryan Malzahn delivered an RBI single, and Cruz Valencia scored on a passed ball. Jack Prewett then provided the go-ahead RBI single in the sixth.

Westin Walls pitched a complete game, allowing two runs on six hits while striking out seven to earn the win.

Game 2

Benedictine 4

CMU 1

Benedictine evened the series with a 4-1 victory in the second game. The Ravens broke a 1-1 tie with a three-run fifth inning that included a two-run home run. Central Methodist managed just four hits, with its lone run coming on an RBI groundout by Joshua Smith in the second.

Game 3

CMU 4

Benedictine 1

The Eagles regained control Saturday, posting a 4-1 win in the third game. Central Methodist jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first on a two-RBI double by Justin Smith. Joshua Smith added a solo home run in the fourth, and Prewett contributed an RBI double in the sixth.

Gavin Whitehurst earned the win with four and a third scoreless innings of relief, and Nicholas Neighbours recorded the save.

Game 4

CMU 5

Benedictine 0

Central Methodist completed the series victory with a 5-0 shutout in Sunday’s finale. The Eagles took advantage of a Benedictine error for a run in the first inning before breaking the game open in the third on a three-run home run by Dariel Rios. Zeb Wede capped the scoring with a solo home run in the sixth.

A trio of pitchers, Derick Garcia, Chase Schnieders, and Vince Ray, combined to hold the Ravens scoreless on six hits.

The winner of Thursday’s round-one game will face either third-seeded William Woods or sixth-seeded Grand View. Central split a four-game series earlier this month against William Woods.