The Basics
Score: Central Methodist 9, Evangel 1 | Box Score
Records: Evangel (7-8, 0-3); Central Methodist (16-2, 3-0)
Location: Crusader Field

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – No. 10 Central Methodist scored four first-inning runs against Evangel Saturday afternoon and never looked back, cruising to a 9-1 victory to complete a three-game Heart of America Athletic Conference sweep of the Crusaders.

Sergio Macias plated the first run of the game with a sacrifice fly, before Logan McDonald's two-run single and a run-scoring hit by Jeff Vance staked CMU starter Mason Schwellenbach to a 4-0 lead.

CMU touched up EU starter Levi Loughridge (1-1) for five hits in the opening inning, then added a second-inning tally on Schwellenbach's one-out single to hike its lead to five runs.

Macias finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs to lead the Eagles, while Schwellenbach (5-0) struck out four and limited the Crusaders to a single unearned run on six hits over his 5.0 innings.

Mason Hansen led EU with a 2-for-3 day at the plate, sparking the lone Crusader scoring rally with a leadoff single in the home half of the fourth inning.

The second game of Saturday's doubleheader and the series finale was canceled due to darkness.

Up Next
Evangel will look for its first Heart Conference victory next Friday (March 19) when it opens a four-game league set against Culver-Stockton in Canton, Mo., with a 1 p.m., doubleheader.

For the latest information on Evangel Athletics, follow the Crusaders on Facebook at Facebook.com/EUAthletics, Twitter (@EUAthletics), or visit EvangelAthletics.com. Fans can also receive updates on the team by downloading the new Evangel Crusaders GamedayApp through Google Play. 

—EvangelAthletics.com—